A not-so-warm welcome

According to the latest data available from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), of the 486 crimes against foreigners reported across the country in 2014, 164 took place in Delhi, the highest among all the states and union territories. Another damning figure is the number of crimes against foreign tourists; of the 384 cases in 2014, 135 were recorded in Delhi. According to the World Bank, over 76 lakh foreign tourists visit India every year.

In January in 2014, a Danish women was raped by nine persons, including three juveniles, near the New Delhi railway station in the heart of the city. According to the government data, the highest number of foreign travellers in India come from the United States, followed by United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Canada and Australia.

While most of the countries list elaborate instructions for their citizens travelling in India, UK is particularly specific in its advisory. The High Commission website states, under its Foreign Travel Advice (India), “Women should exercise caution while travelling in India”. In a separate page, the High Commission provides travel tips for women travellers in India, “think about how your clothing will fit in with local customs”.

The 2014 gangrape had prompted Delhi Police to set up a helpline to help out foreigners. But the number of calls received by the helpline has been dwindling. The first year, 2014, it had received 60 calls, the next year it got 22 calls and till June 9 this year, it has received only seven calls.

Long considered an unsafe city for women, the capital may well be on its way to earning another ignominious title-a city equally unsafe for foreigners.