Tourism Ministry to address security, gender and cleanliness issues
Updated: Jul 18, 2013 01:59:29pm
New Delhi, Jul 18 (KNN) With a view to revive tourism which has been recently hit by natural calamities and other issues concerning security and gender, a National Tourism Minister’s Conference was held here today.
“At such a time, we should all put our heads together and work out the best possible ways and strategies to develop and promote Indian tourism in the most effective manner,” said Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi addressing the gathering.
The meeting saw the participation of various tourism ministers, senior officials and representatives of the travel and hospitality industry who discussed strategies to ensure that the full tourism potential of the country is realised.
Pointing out that tourism development was a collective responsibility, Chiranjeevi said, “We all know and understand that tourism plays an important role in the economic development of the nation and for the employment generation in the country. We are all aware, that this critical sector helps in mainstreaming the remote areas and weaker sections of the society.”
The minister appealed to all stakeholders to join hands with the Ministry to meet the challenges that Indian Tourism is facing today.
Significantly, there was a healthy exchange of ideas from central and state tourism authorities as also the 22 national tourism, travel and hospitality industry association present there.
Safety and security of tourists, particularly women was raised. Towards this, the conference launched a new campaign titled ‘I respect women’ with the Ministry of Tourism issuing badges in Hindi and ten international languages.
Other issues deliberated upon include cleanliness at important tourist destinations, rationalisation of taxes to make Indian tourism products competitive, bringing uniformity in the structure of road taxes, promoting seamless travel, timely implementation of tourism infrastructure projects, issuing time bound licenses and no objective certificates for various tourism related services; provision of single window clearance for film shootings and MICE activities, promoting accessible and sustainable tourism as well as intra-regional tourism; and improving coordination between state and union territory administrations.
The conference adopted a resolution that provides for safety and security of tourists, tourist police, speedy investigation, post traumatic help to victims, building awareness amongst stakeholders and communities on the need to be sensitive to needs of tourists and being helpful; school lessons on importance of sensitivity to tourists and cleanliness of public areas.
Due importance would be given to the mass awareness campaign called ‘I respect women.’
On their part, the departments of tourism of all states and UTs will ensure removal of garbage, provision of toilets to stop open defecation and declaring polythene, garbage and beggar free zones.
Further, toilet facilities will be made available along roads leading to important tourist destinations utilizing the existing infrastructure like petrol pumps, dhabas, panchayat and other public buildings by utilizing services of unemployed youth.
In addition, tourism officials dealing with foreign tourists will need to have spoken knowledge of a foreign language. (ES/KNN)
“At such a time, we should all put our heads together and work out the best possible ways and strategies to develop and promote Indian tourism in the most effective manner,” said Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi addressing the gathering.
The meeting saw the participation of various tourism ministers, senior officials and representatives of the travel and hospitality industry who discussed strategies to ensure that the full tourism potential of the country is realised.
Pointing out that tourism development was a collective responsibility, Chiranjeevi said, “We all know and understand that tourism plays an important role in the economic development of the nation and for the employment generation in the country. We are all aware, that this critical sector helps in mainstreaming the remote areas and weaker sections of the society.”
The minister appealed to all stakeholders to join hands with the Ministry to meet the challenges that Indian Tourism is facing today.
Significantly, there was a healthy exchange of ideas from central and state tourism authorities as also the 22 national tourism, travel and hospitality industry association present there.
Safety and security of tourists, particularly women was raised. Towards this, the conference launched a new campaign titled ‘I respect women’ with the Ministry of Tourism issuing badges in Hindi and ten international languages.
Other issues deliberated upon include cleanliness at important tourist destinations, rationalisation of taxes to make Indian tourism products competitive, bringing uniformity in the structure of road taxes, promoting seamless travel, timely implementation of tourism infrastructure projects, issuing time bound licenses and no objective certificates for various tourism related services; provision of single window clearance for film shootings and MICE activities, promoting accessible and sustainable tourism as well as intra-regional tourism; and improving coordination between state and union territory administrations.
The conference adopted a resolution that provides for safety and security of tourists, tourist police, speedy investigation, post traumatic help to victims, building awareness amongst stakeholders and communities on the need to be sensitive to needs of tourists and being helpful; school lessons on importance of sensitivity to tourists and cleanliness of public areas.
Due importance would be given to the mass awareness campaign called ‘I respect women.’
On their part, the departments of tourism of all states and UTs will ensure removal of garbage, provision of toilets to stop open defecation and declaring polythene, garbage and beggar free zones.
Further, toilet facilities will be made available along roads leading to important tourist destinations utilizing the existing infrastructure like petrol pumps, dhabas, panchayat and other public buildings by utilizing services of unemployed youth.
In addition, tourism officials dealing with foreign tourists will need to have spoken knowledge of a foreign language. (ES/KNN)
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