India’s rape controversy isn’t expected to weaken inbound tourism in 2013

For the prospective traveler, India conjures up several images: the iconic Taj Mahal, the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas, the bustling chaos of crowded cities, the gorgeous architecture of the temples of south India.

But these enchanting scenes might be overshadowed by another picture of India, one that is far grimmer. While India attempts to enhance its image in the eyes of foreign tourists, a high-profile rape case in Delhi has raised concerns about the safety of female travelers to the country.

The media scrutiny comes after a solid year for Indian tourism. A year-end review by India’s Department of Tourism found that during the period January to November 2012 India saw approximately 5.9 million foreign tourists...