NEW DELHI: India has tourist spots galore but they all need a wash before they can draw the kind of tourist flows they have the potential to attract. Feeling that a thorough scrubbing is in order, ministry of tourism launched Campaign Clean India.
In addition to the Atithi Devo Bhawah campaign, which has already raised hygiene issues, this one seeks to bring together stakeholders in the tourism industry and encourage a more active participation in promoting cleanliness in general and at tourist spots in particular.
The launch also brought together stakeholders for a national-level workshop on the campaign. Along with government officials, students and teachers, NGOs, media professionals, tour operators and representatives from corporations discussed within their groups and came up with recommendations.
Tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahay said the campaign is crucial for achieving the targeted growth rate of 12% in in-bound and domestic tourist arrivals during the 12th Plan. Currently India accounts for 0.6% of the world market in in-bound tourism.
A 2009 survey covering five major tourist destinations conducted by the ministry to identify major gaps that existed in terms of infrastructure and service delivery showed that both foreign and domestic tourists found the state of hygiene and sanitation in and around the destinations and absence of hygienically-maintained public amenities like toilets unsatisfactory.
"We are starting with tourist destinations but are planning for the nation," he said. Once set rolling, the changes could create 3 crore new jobs.
Former president APJ Abdul Kalam launched the campaign and suggested that places of worship could make ideal spots for sensitizing the public. He suggested that "display boards with vows be place in a way that the pilgrim can read them while approaching the shrine."
He emphasized on efficient waste management, energy conversion, recycling and mapping of neighbourhoods for better understanding of prevailing conditions. "Recycle what you can and reduce the consumption of what is limited," said chief minister, Shiela Dikshit, "We have to teach our children to keep clean and to conserve - we don't have unlimited resources." "We have to start from our homes," she continued, "We have to change our own cultural ethos. There were quite are few NGOs working in the area and they threw up their hands in a couple of months. What it cost them to clean up, people will not pay."
Sahay said that his Ministry will finalize and plan the campaign strategy, incorporating the workshop recommendations, by March 31, 2012. The implementation will start from April 1, 2012.
Crosswoods holidays 2011
In addition to the Atithi Devo Bhawah campaign, which has already raised hygiene issues, this one seeks to bring together stakeholders in the tourism industry and encourage a more active participation in promoting cleanliness in general and at tourist spots in particular.
The launch also brought together stakeholders for a national-level workshop on the campaign. Along with government officials, students and teachers, NGOs, media professionals, tour operators and representatives from corporations discussed within their groups and came up with recommendations.
Tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahay said the campaign is crucial for achieving the targeted growth rate of 12% in in-bound and domestic tourist arrivals during the 12th Plan. Currently India accounts for 0.6% of the world market in in-bound tourism.
A 2009 survey covering five major tourist destinations conducted by the ministry to identify major gaps that existed in terms of infrastructure and service delivery showed that both foreign and domestic tourists found the state of hygiene and sanitation in and around the destinations and absence of hygienically-maintained public amenities like toilets unsatisfactory.
"We are starting with tourist destinations but are planning for the nation," he said. Once set rolling, the changes could create 3 crore new jobs.
Former president APJ Abdul Kalam launched the campaign and suggested that places of worship could make ideal spots for sensitizing the public. He suggested that "display boards with vows be place in a way that the pilgrim can read them while approaching the shrine."
He emphasized on efficient waste management, energy conversion, recycling and mapping of neighbourhoods for better understanding of prevailing conditions. "Recycle what you can and reduce the consumption of what is limited," said chief minister, Shiela Dikshit, "We have to teach our children to keep clean and to conserve - we don't have unlimited resources." "We have to start from our homes," she continued, "We have to change our own cultural ethos. There were quite are few NGOs working in the area and they threw up their hands in a couple of months. What it cost them to clean up, people will not pay."
Sahay said that his Ministry will finalize and plan the campaign strategy, incorporating the workshop recommendations, by March 31, 2012. The implementation will start from April 1, 2012.
Crosswoods holidays 2011
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