Letters: Misbehaving with tourists

Apropos Kanika Datta's column "Incredibly unsafe" (Swot, April 11), the writer has forcefully brought out why India's tourism is suffering in drawing foreign tourists, despite its superior places of attractions. Even the average Indian travelling to other parts of the country undergoes many unsavoury experiences - enough to deter him/her to travel unless unavoidable. To confirm this, one may add two more questions to the list realistically suggested (and presented tactfully) by the writer to gauge any tourist's experience - how often did the taxi or auto driver take you to your destination via the right route, and without charging extra? If you forgot something in the hotel, did you get it back in a good condition (if you got it at all), even if you made a complaint within 24 hours? Also, improvements in our infrastructure have not matched the behaviour of our people. From the porter at the railway station or the airport to the taxi driver, the hotel staff or the guide at any tourist place, most of them are misbehaved, and lack courtesy or concern. In fact, many take pleasure in misguiding tourists on being asked for directions. India desperately needs to come out of its ivory tower of complacence and self-praise, and make itself a better tourist destination.

Y G Chouksey Pune

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