Tourist Safety at Risk: Urgent Reforms Needed

The horrifying gang rape of two women in Koppal on March 6—one an Israeli tourist and the other a local homestay owner—exposes the grim reality behind India’s ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ ethos. The victims’ three male companions, including an American, were brutally assaulted and thrown into the Tungabhadra canal, leading to the drowning of an Odia tourist.

This is not an isolated incident. A British woman was raped in a Delhi hotel, while another was molested in the lift when she sought help. In Karnataka, attacks on tourists have resulted in fatalities, including a 21-year-old’s murder near Bengaluru last year. The 2017 rape and murder of an Irish-British national in Goa still haunts India’s tourism sector.

The Koppal incident triggered a crackdown on illegal homestays, revealing that 117 in the Hampi-Koppal region were operating without registration. Such negligence jeopardizes India’s tourism industry, which is expected to double its revenue to $523 billion by 2034 and sustain over 4.5 crore jobs.

However, a 20% police personnel shortage hampers safety efforts. Establishing a dedicated tourist police force, ensuring stringent background checks for homestay operators, and enforcing strict penalties for offenders are essential. If India is to uphold its commitment to guest safety, action must replace rhetoric.

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