Participating in a Amity Law School organised seminar on review of laws relating to tourism in India, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Dr. E.M.S.Natchiappan said on Tuesday that there was a need to strengthen the country's legal system to curb human trafficking.
Natchiappan said that for ages India has been attracting tourists with its ancient monuments, knowledge treasury scenic beauty and other attractions.
However, he said, tourism has a dark side too, which is reflected in human trafficking and related problems.
He stressed that the framing of strict and new laws alone cannot ensure everything, and added that their implementation has to be made better and stricter.
Shivendra Tomar, Director, IFCI, said that during the last year, 100 crore visits were recorded by the tourists world over, of which India accounted for a meager 0.6 per cent, with just 1. 6 percent contribution to the total revenue generated by International Foreign Exchange earnings.
Out of 65 lakh foreign tourists that visited India last year, 15-16 per cent were from USA and 12-13 per cent were from the UK.
Suggesting a way out, Tomar said that archaic laws in India such as "Sarai Act 1962" governing the hotel industry needed to be revised.
He also said that the legal system should ensure safe and secure environment for foreign visitors.
He urged the citizens of the country to follow "Athithi Devo Bhav" in letter and spirit and suggested that concerted efforts by the government, the tourism sector and society need to make India a "Preferred Tourist Destination."
Both also released a souvenir during the seminar.
Eight parallel sessions on sub-themes unfolded during the day, including sessions on medical tourism, tourism and women, tourism, environment and sociology, rourism and industry,FDI and tourism and religion and tourism.
