Aiming to ensure international standards of safe tourism practices, Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India, has finalised an action plan for an aggressive awareness campaign in certain 'vulnerable' destinations in the country, including training programmes for service providers. According to a report in The Hindu Business Line, five 'most vulnerable' places for tourist exploitation in the country would be selected for spreading awareness among service providers including guides, tour operators, hoteliers, and auto and taxi drivers.
A senior MoT official has stated that the five places which are more prone to crime involving tourists in drug abuse, immoral traffic, child abuse, cheating and other similar crimes will be identified shortly for launching a campaign for promoting safe and honourable tourism. Areas like Pahargunj in Delhi and certain tourist locations in Goa, Kerala and North-East India are likely to be identified in the first phase for a focused awareness campaign involving service providers.
MoT has already finalised the code of conduct for safe and honourable tourism to check prostitution, sex tourism and involuntary drug use among other things. Seeking a proactive role of service providers, MoT has decided to involve auto and taxi drivers, guest house owners, policemen, guides and tour operators to prevent unethical practices in tourism sector.
According to the MoT official, it has decided to conduct short-term five-day training programmes for service providers to sensitise them about safe and honourable tourism. The code of conduct for safe and honourable tourism is applicable to stakeholders of the travel sector including hotels, restaurants, lodges, guest houses, tour agents, and entertainment establishments. In addition, it is also applicable to service providers like event management organisations, entertainment providers, transport operators and other services or agencies associated with tourism sector.