Visitors to India warned not to wear short skirts
India’s cultural and tourism minister has been accused of putting people off visiting the country after he advised female tourists not to wear skimpy clothes and to avoid going out at night.
Mahesh Sharma said on Sunday: "For their own safety, women foreign visitors should not wear short dresses and skirts. Indian culture is different from western culture."
Speaking in the city of Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, Sharma said an advisory leaflet was being prepared for foreigners ahead of the main tourist season, which starts in October.
The minister said women would also be advised to record the registration number of any vehicles they travelled in and to forward it to their friends, as an added safety measure.
However, opposition parties and women’s rights activists have condemned Sharma’s comments as ‘misogynistic’.
Ranjana Kumari of the Centre for Social Research, a women’s advocacy group, said the advice would scare visitors off coming to India.
It follows a number of high profile rape cases in India, some of which have involved foreign women, many in taxis and on public transport.
In 2015, police recorded an average of six reported rape cases a day, said The Telegraph.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists