**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Tourism's response to a parliamentary question regarding the promotion of green and eco-tourism in India. It outlines steps taken to promote eco-friendly practices, develop sustainable tourism strategies, and enhance tourist safety. The answer was provided on December 15, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Promotion of Green and Eco-Tourism:**
* The Ministry of Tourism promotes India holistically, including eco-tourism.
* A National Strategy for Development of Ecotourism has been formulated and circulated to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.
* **Eco-Friendly Practices in Hotels:**
* Guidelines for Star Classification of Hotels mandate eco-friendly practices.
* These include: Sewage Treatment Plants, rainwater harvesting, waste management, pollution control methods, and the introduction of non-CFC equipment.
* A National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism has been formulated and circulated to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.
* The Travel for Life (TFL) program encourages tourists and businesses to adopt sustainable practices.
* **Tourist Safety Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Tourism has been working with State Governments and Union Territory Administrations to establish dedicated Tourist Police.
* Numerous states have already deployed tourist police forces.
* A 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline is available (1800111363 or short code 1363) in 12 languages to provide information and assistance.
* The Government has established the Nirbhaya Fund, administered by the Department of Economic Affairs, to improve the safety and security of women.
* The Ministry is encouraging States and UTs to avail benefits from the Nirbhaya Fund for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women tourists.
* The 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism' has been adopted to encourage tourism activities that respect dignity, safety, and freedom from exploitation.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments / Union Territory Administrations**
* **Impact:** Are required to implement the National Strategy for Development of Ecotourism and the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism.
* **Action Required:** Implement eco-friendly practices, establish Tourist Police, adopt the 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism,' and consider utilizing the Nirbhaya Fund for women's safety projects.
**Hotels and Tourism Enterprises**
* **Impact:** Need to adopt eco-friendly practices to qualify for Star Classification.
* **Action Required:** Implement eco-friendly measures (e.g., Sewage Treatment Plants, rainwater harvesting) and participate in sustainable tourism initiatives.
**Tourists**
* **Impact:** Benefit from increased safety and access to information via the Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline, also promoting sustainable and respectful tourism experiences.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the available resources for safe travel.
**Local Residents**
* **Impact:** The Ministry of Tourism will work to ensure tourism activities show respect for basic rights, dignity, safety, and freedom from exploitation.
* **Action Required:** Support the implementation of 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism.'
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The primary government body responsible for promoting tourism, formulating policies, and implementing initiatives related to green and sustainable tourism.
National Strategy for Development of Ecotourism: A strategy formulated by the Ministry of Tourism to promote ecotourism, circulated to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.
National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism: A strategy formulated by the Ministry of Tourism to promote sustainable tourism, circulated to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.
Travel for Life (TFL): A program initiated by the Ministry of Tourism to encourage tourists and tourism businesses to adopt sustainable tourism practices.
Nirbhaya Fund: A dedicated non-lapsable corpus fund, administered by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, which can be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women, for e.g. 'Safe Tourism Destinations for Women'
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2423
ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
PROMOTION OF GREEN AND ECO-TOURISM
2423. SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken steps to promote green
tourism and eco-tourism across the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has introduced or proposes to
introduce a national certification framework for eco-friendly
hotels, tour operators and tourism enterprises;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has taken initiatives to strengthen
tourist safety in the country, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (b): The Ministry of Tourism promotes India in a holistic manner,
through various initiatives. As part of on-going activities, promotion of
eco-tourism is also taken up. The Ministry of Tourism has formulated a
National Strategy for Development of Ecotourism which was circulated to
the State Governments / Union Territory Administrations.
(c) to (d): The Guidelines for Star Classification of Hotels mandates Eco-
friendly Practices viz. (a) Sewage Treatment Plant (b) rain water
harvesting (c) waste management (d) pollution control method for air,
water and light (e) Introduction of non CFC equipment for refrigeration and
air conditioning and other Eco-friendly measures and initiatives in order
to qualify for classification. National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism was
also formulated by the Ministry and circulated to the State Governments
and Union Territory Administrations. In line with the strategy, Travel for
Life (TFL) programme was initiated to encourage tourists and tourism
businesses to adopt sustainable tourism practices.(e): Ministry of Tourism has taken various initiatives to strengthen
tourist safety in the country. The details of the same are mentioned as
under: -
(i) Safety and Security of tourists is essentially a State subject.
However, the Ministry of Tourism has been continuously taking up the
matter with all the State Governments and Union Territory (UT)
Administrations for setting up of dedicated Tourist Police to
strengthen on-ground safety mechanism for tourists. With the efforts
of Ministry of Tourism, States/UT’s viz Telangana, Andhra Pradesh,
Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh,
Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan,
Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh have deployed tourist police.
(ii) As a part of the Ministry’s continuous endeavors to make travel for
tourists safe and secure, the Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24x7
Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or
on a short code 1363 in 12 Languages including 10 international
languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian,
Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic), Hindi and English for domestic
and foreign tourists to provide support service in terms of information
relating to travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists
in distress, while travelling within India.
(iii) Government has set up a dedicated non-lapsable corpus fund -
Nirbhaya Fund, being administered by Department of Economic
Affairs, Ministry of Finance, which can be utilized for projects
specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women.
Ministry of Tourism has been periodically requesting all State
Governments and Union Territories for availing the benefits of the
‘Safe Tourism Destinations for Women’ under Nirbhaya fund which can
be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and
security of women tourists.
(iv) The Ministry of Tourism along with all stakeholders, including the
Tourism Departments of all States and UTs, have adopted the 'Code
of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism' which is a set of guidelines
to encourage tourism activities to be undertaken with respect to
basic right like dignity, safety and freedom from exploitation of both
tourists and local residents in particular, women and children.
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