Government should make "legally binding" the code of conduct for safe and honourable tourism and should plug-in the loopholes in order to make it more effective ahead of Commonwealth Games, say NGOs.
The guidelines are applicable to all owners, suppliers, contractors and employees of the travel and tour sector including hotels, restaurants, lodges, guest houses, tour agents and entertainment establishments. Service providers also come under its ambit.
However, its not legally binding and the the ministry of tourism will only promote entities adopting the code on its website.
"The code has good intentions behind it but it should be legally binding. There is no monitoring mechanism in place. It should include rehabilitation plan for children and more child homes for them," says Mohammad Aftab, national manager, Save the Children, an NGO.
"It requires a fraction of huge budget spent on the Commonwealth Games extravaganza," he adds.
All hotels and tour operators need to train two people to ensure the code is followed.
"The advisory says that staff of hotel and guest houses should be trained to keep eye on any kind of exploitation. In cities, couples visit hotels to spend time together. The code makes these people vulnerable now and police will be in a position to exploit them," says Sanjay Gupta from Bal Adhikar Abhiyan India.
The surrogate advertisements of massage parlours, escorts and friendship clubs in newspapers will be a big concern for the authorities to check prostitution, specially during the Games when these parlours would seek to cash in on the huge number of foreign clients.
"We have placed a petition in the Supreme Court to check these advertisements, pleading the court to establish guidelines to check their unwanted activities," says Rishikant from Shakti Vahini.
"As responsible people, we will talk to all the stakeholders as we have some guidelines to follow a path. After some time, we hope the code would be made enforceable by the government," he adds.
The idea about NACO planning to install condom vending machines during CWG is contradictory to the tourism code of conduct and checking prostitution, says Sanjay Gupta.
"If the assumption is that visitors may look for sex option hence they should have access to condoms then the code of conduct will put them in more vulnerable position if they are caught in any such act. On one hand where condom vending machines will be giving the signal of safe sex, getting into sex activity may put them into legal trouble," he says.
A NACO official says the purpose behind installation of condom vending machines is to promote safe sex free from HIV/AIDS.
The code of conduct consists of guidelines to encourage tourism with respect for basic rights like dignity, safety and freedom from exploitation of both tourists and local residents.
The code also recommends stringent measures against involuntary drug abuse, manipulated and incorrect information, cultural and social intolerance that increases vulnerability to crime.
However, Sujit Banerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism says he will soon hold a meeting with NGOs to figure out how to take the code of conduct forward.
"With passage of time, the code of conduct will become a custom and stakeholders will have to implement it. Tourists visiting India will take services from those people only who implement the code. Those who do not will not get customers," he says.
