Concerned over recent incidents of rape and killing of foreign tourists…
Concerned over recent incidents of rape and killing of foreign tourists, the Union Tourism Ministry would soon introduce tourist cards to ensure the safety of international guests.
We are in the process of consulting the Law Ministry in a bid to come out with a tourist card system with the help of an appropriate legislation, Union Tourism Minister Renuka Choudhry told PTI.
The card would help local authorities keep track of the movements of foreign tourists to ensure their safety and also check them from indulging in any unlawful activity, she said.
Choudhary said the card, which would act as an identification document, will bear finger-impression and photograph of the tourist and he would not have to carry his passport everywhere during the stay in the country.
The card would also enable tourists avail special discounts and other facilities in India, she said.
The minister also emphasisied upon the need to create and revive the country`s old ethos of hospitality in the form of an advertisement campaign. We are planning to soon come out with an advertisement campaign in a bid to revive the ethos of India that respect the guest as God, she said.
The ministry will also give orientation to taxi drivers, hoteliers and all those connected with tourism to make them
understand benefits of the tourism industry, Renuka said.
Admitting that various incidents such as the WTC attack, bird flu and SARS have hit the tourism sector very badly all over the world in the last few years, the minister said there has to be a collective effort to revive and promote the industry.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
