Some 35 civil society groups from across India, ranging from fish workers forums and forest rights movements, to unions and groups conducting research on tourism have sent a joint statement to the ministry of tourism, condemning the way it is developing national tourism policy. According to Swathi Seshasri of EQUATIONS: “There has also been no consultative process in the formation of the draft or the finalisation of the policy with just 10 days provided for comments.”
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1: The organisations are concerned that the new tourism policy will harm several communities while centralising power and promoting large, private interests.
2: They are demanding “a consultative, democratic approach to the process of formulation of the policy”
3: The 35 signatories include the All India Forum of Forest Movements, the Centre for Responsible Tourism, Children’s Rights in Goa, Kerala Independent Fishworkers Federation, National Hawker Federation and the Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust.
DIG DEEPER
1: Read the original article in The Financial Express
2: View the Draft Tourism Policy online.
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