**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism promotes India in a holistic manner, including the promotion of eco-tourism. It has formulated a National Strategy for Development of Ecotourism and has also initiated the Travel for Life (TFL) program to encourage sustainable tourism practices. The report also highlights various initiatives aimed at strengthening tourist safety and security.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Eco-Tourism Promotion:**
* Ministry of Tourism promotes India through various initiatives, including eco-tourism.
* National Strategy for Development of Ecotourism has been formulated and circulated to State Governments / Union Territory Administrations.
* Travel for Life (TFL) programme encourages tourists and tourism businesses to adopt sustainable tourism practices.
* **Eco-Friendly Practices in Hotels:**
* Star Classification Guidelines mandate eco-friendly practices.
* Practices include sewage treatment, rainwater harvesting, waste management, pollution control, and the use of non-CFC equipment.
* **Tourist Safety & Security:**
* Tourist safety and security are primarily State subjects.
* The Ministry has been coordinating with States/UTs to establish dedicated Tourist Police. Many states have already deployed tourist police.
* A 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline is available at 1800111363 (toll-free) or 1363 (short code), offering support in 12 languages.
* The Government provides a non-lapsable corpus fund (Nirbhaya Fund) for projects designed to improve the safety and security of women.
* States/UTs are encouraged to avail funds for 'Safe Tourism Destinations for Women'.
* **Code of Conduct:**
* The Ministry of Tourism, along with stakeholders, has adopted the 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism.'
* The code encourages tourism activities with respect to dignity, safety, and freedom from exploitation of both tourists and local residents.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments / Union Territory Administrations**
* **Impact:** Required to implement the National Strategy for Development of Ecotourism. Expected to establish dedicated Tourist Police to strengthen on-ground safety mechanism for tourists. May avail funds for "Safe Tourism Destinations for Women" under Nirbhaya fund.
* **Action Required:** Review and implement the National Strategy for Development of Ecotourism. Establish or strengthen Tourist Police force. Evaluate projects for women's safety and security and apply for Nirbhaya Fund if applicable.
**Tourists (Domestic and Foreign)**
* **Impact:** Enhanced safety and security due to dedicated Tourist Police and access to the Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline. Promotion of eco-friendly and sustainable tourism practices.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline when in need of information or assistance. Support eco-friendly tourism businesses.
**Tourism Businesses (Hotels, Tour Operators, etc.)**
* **Impact:** Hotels need to adhere to the Eco-friendly practices mandated by the Star Classification Guidelines. Encouraged to adopt sustainable tourism practices.
* **Action Required:** Implement eco-friendly practices to qualify for Star Classification. Adopt and promote sustainable tourism practices.
**Local Residents**
* **Impact:** The 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism' promotes respect for the dignity, safety, and freedom from exploitation of local residents.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the Code of Conduct and report any instances of exploitation or disrespect.
**Women Tourists**
* **Impact:** The Nirbhaya Fund helps improve the safety and security of women tourists
* **Action Required:** N/A
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: Formulated the National Strategy for Development of Ecotourism and promotes green and eco-tourism initiatives.
National Strategy for Development of Ecotourism: A strategy formulated by the Ministry of Tourism to promote eco-tourism.
Travel for Life (TFL) programme: Programme initiated to encourage tourists and tourism businesses to adopt sustainable tourism practices.
Nirbhaya Fund: A non-lapsable corpus fund administered by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, used for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women.
Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism: A set of guidelines to encourage tourism activities undertaken with respect to basic rights like dignity, safety and freedom from exploitation.
Ministry of Tourism
Promotion of Green and Eco-Tourism
प्रव तथ: 15 DEC 2025 4:23PM by PIB Delhi
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.
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.
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.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
***
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2204119) आगंतुक पटल : 389
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही