A two day long programme on the “Consultant Meeting on the Code of Conduct on Safe and Tourism Society” will be conduct by Impulse (Social Network NGO) in collaboration with West Sikkim Tourism Society and West District Zilla Panchayat, on 22nd and 23rd of July 2011 here at Zilla Panchayat Bhawan, West Sikkim.

The main purpose of conducting the meeting is, it will permit a stronger response to human trafficking from the tourism industry in Sikkim and in the northeast of India where the tourism professionals will be trained in preventing human trafficking through their business policies that will contain amendments on responsible tourism and what is not allowed from the employees and from the clients of their business.

It is to be said that, corporate responsibility will be stressed during consultation and will emphases the role of business in preventing human trafficking and the tourism professional will also be trained to respect the code of conduct when dealing with their own employees, their supply chain and their customers. This programme will also focus that the tourism professionals will be able to transmit information on human trafficking to domestic and international tourists, who will be in a better position to make better choices.

It was mentioned that, the training will be sustainable, since Impulse will monitor the implementation in the state of Sikkim and the programs made permanent by the Sikkim government to educate the tourism industry on the code of conduct on practicing safe tourism which will later be also adopted by the Indian Government.

During the programme, Advisor Tourism, Civil Aviation Department, Mr. GM Gurung will be gracing the inaugural session as the Chief Guest accompanied by the MLA West Sikkim, Mr. PL Subba along with West District Magistrate, Mr. S Pradhan and Zilla Adhyaksha Mrs. Karma Suki Bhutia respectively.

Likewise, on the 2nd day of the programme that is on 23rd July, Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha Mr. OT Lepcha will be gracing the program as the Chief Guest whereas UPA-Adhakshya West Zilla Panchayat as the Guest of Honour.

Total of 100 participants comprising of Tour Operators, Hoteliers, NGO’s, and Government officials will be taking part during the two day long programme where on that day the consultant meeting, a pledge will also be taken and signed by the participants to adopt the code of conduct for safe and responsible tourism.

As part of Impulse initiative, the state consultant will be discussing on how various stake holders such as Tour Operators, Hoteliers, NGO’s, Law Enforcement Agencies, Government Departments such as Labor, Education, Forest and Environment, Social Welfare and Tourism, can play a role to carry forward the Code of Conduct in implementing and making it workable and Impulse NGO Network can join hands, follow up and assist the same to address the issue of human trafficking in the state of Sikkim.

Courtesy: Sikkim Mail

 

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