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India criticises travel alerts for holiday season
India has criticised advisories issued by five countries asking their citizens to avoid travel to India during the holiday season, warning them of "possible terrorist attacks".
Alerts were issued recently by the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Authorities say the alerts will create concern about visiting India and will hit tourism.
Officials say the government will try to persuade the five countries to withdraw the travel advisories.
"This is nothing but scaremongering," The Times of India newspaper quoted Indian Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay as saying.
"Leave aside other parts of India, 100% booking is being reported from Jammu and Kashmir. If this isn't a sign of normalcy, what is?"
Mr Sahay said he had taken up the issue with the ministry of external affairs and asked them to persuade the countries to withdraw the advisories immediately.
Reports say the tourism sector is worried and fears that the alerts may lead to cancellations by foreign tourists.
Several Hindu, Islamic, and other religious and secular holidays fall between now and the end of January.
Winter months are also the peak time for foreign tourists and business delegations visiting India.
BBC News - South Asia
India has criticised advisories issued by five countries asking their citizens to avoid travel to India during the holiday season, warning them of "possible terrorist attacks".
Alerts were issued recently by the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Authorities say the alerts will create concern about visiting India and will hit tourism.
Officials say the government will try to persuade the five countries to withdraw the travel advisories.
"This is nothing but scaremongering," The Times of India newspaper quoted Indian Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay as saying.
"Leave aside other parts of India, 100% booking is being reported from Jammu and Kashmir. If this isn't a sign of normalcy, what is?"
Mr Sahay said he had taken up the issue with the ministry of external affairs and asked them to persuade the countries to withdraw the advisories immediately.
Reports say the tourism sector is worried and fears that the alerts may lead to cancellations by foreign tourists.
Several Hindu, Islamic, and other religious and secular holidays fall between now and the end of January.
Winter months are also the peak time for foreign tourists and business delegations visiting India.
BBC News - South Asia
