Welcome to my home, Mom and Dad! Now, watch out for the bombs.

[views_livemint]

Hi, this is Melissa Bell.  I'm an American working at Mint and I had the pleasure of pestering LiveJournal during the American election, so I'm back to annoy you all in the global forum

Comments

[lookes]

I certainly would go, India is a glorious country.

It's s aid a lot but if you let terrorists interfer with what you are palnning and doing, then you are letting them win. they are literally creating terror. Terror runs a lot further than the bombs, India is on high alert and is doing everything it can at the moment but people are still scared. Whilst this is the case, the terrorists are winning.

Obviously exercise due caution and don't do anything that puts you at an increased risk of potential activity but I can't see a single reason why you should stop leading your life as you see fit.

Maybe the American ethos is different, having only ever had one major terrorist attack but living in the UK where hundreds of terrorists attcks have happened over the years, including the Irish problem and Muslim insurgent attacks. I personally feel that you can't spend your whole life hiding from something that may happen. It's like saying 'I won't go to work today, I might get sacked'

[rparvaaz]

Did you try telling them that it is actually safer to visit places that have been attacked recently? Lightning rarely strikes twice and all that jazz...

Am an Indian, so can't answer your questions.

[essentialsaltes]

The attacks can't have had a positive effect on Indian tourism. Previously, an indecisive traveller being shown travel packages by an agent might have seen a picture of a tiger or the Taj Mahal and been inspired by a sudden decision to go. Now, recent events may dampen that sudden inspiration.

However, I think tourists who had a pre-existing desire to come to India (for whatever reason) will not be dissuaded. I still have a great desire to visit Egypt, despite the fact that tourists there have faced occasional terrorist attacks.

[cpip]

I would go if I could afford to. Sadly, the current economic climate means I can't afford any sort of long vacations like that! I have never visited India, but have long wanted to see it.

[ixwin]

I would feel a little wary of going to Kashmir, as it's been a trouble spot for years; but the attacks wouldn't put me off travelling to the rest of India if I'd already planned to (I have two young children, so I'm ruling out exotic travel for the next few years, but I've been to India twice in the past decade and it is an amazing country).

Like lookes I think the fact I'm from the UK (and in my case a Londoner as well) means that the threat of terrorism has been a fact of life for as long as I can remember, so the fact that a country has been targeted does not automatically rule it out for me.