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The World Economic Forum 2008, has come up with its annual ‘Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008′. This report measures the T&T (Travel and Tourism) competitiveness of economies, by using an index called the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI). The TTCI measures each economy on the following criterion -

Rules and regulations of an economy, how environmentally friendly the economy is, the safety and security an economy provides to its travelers, air transport, tourism infrastructure, natural resources, cultural resources and few others. In total there are about 14 criterion where in an economy is measured.

India ranks a lousy 65. Switzerland comes in 1 and Lesotho is a 130.

India at 65 is something that makes me sad. The recent rapes, murders, thefts have propelled India in the list of countries that are not safe for tourists. UK, US, Canada and Australia have issued warnings to its citizens about visiting India. We are the dreaded country for tourists. Tourists should be extremely careful while visiting India. At every corner in India there is a supposed thief, rapist and murderer, lurking to pounce on well-meaning tourists.

Forget the cultural delight that India has to offer, its historical monuments, different communities living as one, the ever welcoming people, the easy weather and abundance to explore in terms of food, places, clothes and oh-my-god what not!

Please overlook all that.                                                   

All this and more gets ignored as tourists high on drugs and booze, walking aimless on the beach unescorted fall prey to Indian lechers.

Am I being harsh? … hell yes! Cause when i visit a foreign country I read up on the place and take as much precaution as possible and not willingly walk into danger.

India can’t provide a safe haven for drug and alcohol abusers. Period.

Am I disappointed about the ranking? Absolutely not!

All I am saying is there is more to India …. which will probably be overlooked as there is too much of dirt that is floating around about my country.