Asia Times Online - The best news coverage from South Asia

South Asia

India to issue 'tourist cards' for foreigners

NEW DELHI - Concerned over recent incidents of rape and killing of foreign tourists, India's 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 said.

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.

Choudhry said the card, which would act as an identification document, will bear a 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 to receive special discounts and other facilities in India, she said.

The minister also emphasized 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 the benefits of the tourism industry, Choudhry said.

Admitting that various incidents such as September 11, 2001, 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.

(Asia Pulse/PTI)

May 29, 2004

No material from Asia Times Online may be republished in any form without written permission.

Privacy and Legal Policies