A pledge for safe, green tourism

NEW DELHI - Stakeholders of the tourism industry and the government Monday signed a pledge reaffirming commitment to a safe, honourable and sustainable tourism to mark the World Tourism Day.

The pledge, signed by more than 150 representatives of the tourism industry at the Hotel Ashok here, reiterated “the commitment to conduct business in a manner that befits the culture and ethos of India’s rich and ancient civilisation, the tolerant and accommodating nature of our multicultural society”.

It sought to protect “all individuals - especially women and children - from all derogatory acts which are contrary to the spirit of the country”.

“We hereby commit to abide by the code of conduct for safe and honourable tourism,” the pledge said.

The signatories also “pledged to fully implement sustainable tourism practices, consistent with the best environment and heritage protection standards - such that the country’s present tourism resource requirements optimise both local community benefit and future sustainable uses”.

The pledge assumes significance in the light of the incidents of abuse of foreign women tourists and visitors to India between January and August this year.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said: “The pledge is a major stride forward in safe tourism reaffirming a sense of responsibility and the impact of tourism on the socio-economic and cultural life.”

“Efforts to promote tourism has increased in the last 10 years. While people are travelling more than ever before, the recent years have witnessed crime and human rights violations as never before. Definite lack of documentation of such trends in India and protection of environment are challenges that tourism is facing in the country,” the minister said.

The voluntary signing of the pledge stemmed from the concern over the law and order and continuous loss of bio-diversity in the country, she said.

A steering committee constituted by the Tourism Ministry after adopting a code of conduct for safe and honourble tourism in July 2010 recommended that the tourism stakeholders sign a written pledge to abide by the code on World Tourism Day, the minister said.