Russia has “never ever” issued a travel advisory against India: Embassy
December 1, 2015, 5:47 am

India receives less than one per cent international tourists annually and their average stay in the country has come down by two days, Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said on Monday [Xinhua]

“The Embassy expresses utter disappointment with numerous media reports about India having been identified by Russia as an unfavourable tourist destination, which misquoted unofficial sources,” a release said in New Delhi on Monday.

The Russian embassy release also made it clear that “while advisories have regularly been issued by Russian authorities for Russian citizens to refrain from visiting certain countries for various reasons, never ever has any of the kind been recommended as regards of India.

“The Embassy underlines that there is no official list of destinations recommended for Russian tourists. Russia and India are friendly nations and strategic partners.”

The increase of inflow of Russian tourists to India is expected during the 2015-2016 tourist season, which at its peak touched 150,000 Russians visiting India in winter months, it added.

India receives less than one per cent international tourists annually and their average stay in the country has come down by two days, Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said on Monday.

Some news reports in the southern Indian city of Goa quoted head of Russian Information Centre (RIC) there Ekaterina Belyakova as saying that “both India and Goa were not considered as good destinations for Russian travellers”.

Indian media reports had quoted Belyakova as saying the removal of India from the safe list was not connected to terror attacks but “some ugly local incidents”.

The British government, in a foreign travel advice on India, has warned women travellers to exercise caution while in India, especially singling out the popular holiday destination of Goa.

“Women should use caution when travelling in India. Reported cases of sexual assault against women and young girls are increasing; recent sexual attacks against female visitors in tourist areas and cities show that foreign women are also at risk. British women have been the victims of sexual assault in Goa, Delhi, Bangalore and Rajasthan,” a post on the UK government website says.

Moscow had announced last week that a ban on charter flights from Russia to Turkey will be introduced after Turkey shot down a Russian jet near the Syrian-Turkish border. Visa-free travel regime between Russia and Turkey is also formally suspended.

Source: Agencies