Koppal, Karnataka (March 9, 2025): An Israeli woman and her Indian homestay operator were gang-raped while stargazing near the heritage town of Hampi. A male tourist was also murdered during the attack. All three accused have been arrested, but the incident prompted hundreds of tourists to flee the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Delhi (March 13, 2025): A British woman was allegedly raped by a man she met through social media. Her trauma deepened when she was molested by another person in a hotel lift while seeking help. Both men have been arrested.

The article by Karanjeet Kaur, published in Theprint highlights the alarming rise in crimes against foreign women tourists in India, exposing a disturbing pattern of sexual violence. She wrote Between 2016 and 2022, only 5% of rape cases involving foreign women in India resulted in convictions. The reputational damage to India’s global image is severe, compounded by viral testimonies from survivors. These crimes not only deter tourism, costing the nation economically, but also reflect issues of gender-based violence that hinder India’s progress.

These incidents are not isolated. They indicate a larger pattern of predatory behaviour, systemic failures in prevention and justice delivery, and inadequate tourist safety protocols. The ripple effect on India's tourism industry is palpable, with negative advisories impacting arrivals and denting the nation's soft power on the global stage.

The Gap Between Law and Enforcement

Despite the strong legal framework, the problem lies in inefficient enforcement, a lack of coordination among tourism departments and law enforcement, and cultural apathy toward crimes against women. Cases involving foreign tourists are often mishandled due to linguistic barriers, slow investigation processes, and bureaucratic delays, leading to loss of trust and global outrage.

Possible Solutions

To enhance the safety of foreign tourists in India and restore global confidence in the country’s hospitality, a comprehensive and multi-layered approach is essential. First and foremost, well-trained, multilingual tourist police units should be established in major travel destinations, especially those frequented by foreign visitors. These units must operate 24x7 and be equipped with cultural sensitivity training and basic foreign language skills to effectively assist international guests. Public areas, accommodations, and tourist hotspots must be outfitted with QR-code-enabled panic buttons linked to immediate response mechanisms. In parallel, the judiciary should set up fast-track courts dedicated to crimes against tourists, adhering strictly to the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita timelines of 60 to 90 days for swift justice. International victims must be granted immediate access to legal aid, translators, and online case tracking systems to ensure transparency and continued support. To strengthen accountability in the hospitality sector, rigorous background checks for hotel staff, homestay operators, guides, and tour operators should be made mandatory, backed by a centralized offender tracking database. Homestays and guesthouses must be brought under a strict regulatory framework, including licensing and surveillance requirements, while all hospitality staff should undergo training in identifying and responding to criminal or suspicious activities. Social media platforms and travel aggregators should partner with authorities to disseminate safety advisories and promote responsible tourism. Tourists should also be educated about the dangers of meeting unknown individuals via digital platforms and encouraged to use only verified, reputable services. Targeted safety campaigns in multiple foreign languages can further reinforce awareness by providing safety tips and emergency contacts. Lastly, community policing initiatives should be encouraged, empowering residents to participate in and contribute to the protection of visitors.

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