In an effort to make sure they don’t lose out potential customers, New Delhi’s tourism ministry and hotels have started offering women-only rooms and floors for women travellers worried about India’s reputation with violent crime.
The government made the decision to increase security measures for tourists after it was reported that the number of women visiting India dropped by 35% in early 2013, following the gang-rape of a New Delhi student on a public bus.
There have been a number of incidences where foreign women have complained to police about being attacked or traumatised by men, which has lead to several countries issuing travel advisories for India.
Big hotel chains such as the ITC group have been offering the women-only wings as early as 2005, but the Indian government wants to make the wings a standard feature in all hotels.
Some of the features in hotels that have already implemented the wings include; double latches for added security, special floor access cards, CCTV cameras, restricted elevator access, all-women staff and in some cases, even a separate check-in counter.
A few of the bigger hotels that offer the service have gone the extra-mile when thinking of what women want and need on holiday and have designed their rooms to include large counters for cosmetics, high-end toiletries and powerful hairdryers and in some cases, even ironing boards. (Apparently appearance is our number one concern after safety)
This initiative is a positive one as it shows just how seriously the Indian government is committed to solving the problem of violence against women, but I can’t help but wonder how smaller hotels will afford the same kind of changes.
Original article: Bustle.com
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Would you feel safer in a women-only wing of a hotel?
The government made the decision to increase security measures for tourists after it was reported that the number of women visiting India dropped by 35% in early 2013, following the gang-rape of a New Delhi student on a public bus.
There have been a number of incidences where foreign women have complained to police about being attacked or traumatised by men, which has lead to several countries issuing travel advisories for India.
Big hotel chains such as the ITC group have been offering the women-only wings as early as 2005, but the Indian government wants to make the wings a standard feature in all hotels.
Some of the features in hotels that have already implemented the wings include; double latches for added security, special floor access cards, CCTV cameras, restricted elevator access, all-women staff and in some cases, even a separate check-in counter.
A few of the bigger hotels that offer the service have gone the extra-mile when thinking of what women want and need on holiday and have designed their rooms to include large counters for cosmetics, high-end toiletries and powerful hairdryers and in some cases, even ironing boards. (Apparently appearance is our number one concern after safety)
This initiative is a positive one as it shows just how seriously the Indian government is committed to solving the problem of violence against women, but I can’t help but wonder how smaller hotels will afford the same kind of changes.
Original article: Bustle.com
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Would you feel safer in a women-only wing of a hotel?