Since December, 2012, women tourists have been avoiding India for obvious reasons, the number reduced by 35% in the first three months of 2013. And strangely enough, more reports of crimes against women seem to be coming to light ever since. The revenue from tourist creates a huge impact on our economy. This is definitely not a good time for Incredible India. So what do the authorities do?
A badge that says, “I am Indian. I respect women.” in Hindi, English, Chinese, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Russian.
They shall help our Tourism Ministry rise from the ashes, the miracle badge that will change the world’s perception of India as an unsafe destination for women travelers. We are still unsure of the badge’s salient features to change behavioural patterns and recondition a centuries old psyche.
The credit for this revolutionary ideas goes to The National Tourism Advisory Council (NTAC), which serves as a think-tank for the tourism ministry. This new badge is funded by World Travel & Tourism Council’s India branch, a rational and nuanced actor on world stage, helping foster great understanding of travel and tourism’s power as a business and economic growth engine.
This badge was launched today at the state ministers’ tourism conference led by India’s tourism minister K Chiranjeevi, and 500 of these were distributed and worn by the attendees.
“We will encourage the states to take the prototype and prepare the badges for the local tourism trade people. These are to be distributed by state government to auto-rickshawallas, taxidrivers, guides, coolies, travel agents and all cutting edge personnel in tourism trade. That will entail few crore people.”
- Tourism Ministry Official
And what about the people who aren’t privileged enough to wear the badge. Must tourists and women in general stay away from those nasty buggers who haven’t been influenced by the power of the badge?
Have we really got it so wrong? What’s your take?
WeAreHolidays