During his visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was presented with a set of urgent demands by local tourist guides, focusing on visitor safety and the site's preservation.
Key Demands for Hampi's Sustainable Future
The Karnataka Tourist Guides Association, led by its General Secretary V Virupakshi, met the minister on Tuesday. They submitted a detailed memorandum outlining critical gaps in infrastructure that need immediate government intervention to ensure the historic site's sustainable development.
Emergency Medical Services Top the List
The association highlighted a severe lack of medical facilities for the thousands of tourists who visit Hampi annually. They insisted on the establishment of first aid stations and the provision of ambulances on-site. Given the region's extreme heat, the guides also demanded that trained medical personnel be permanently stationed at Hampi to address heat-related health emergencies promptly.
Recognition and Benefits for Tourist Guides
Emphasizing their role as the "genuine representatives" of the tourist destination, the guides put forward requests for their own welfare. They sought health insurance benefits to cover occupational risks. Additionally, they requested facilitation of free or concessional rail travel options, a move that would support their profession and mobility.
The guides' appeal underscores a dual focus: protecting the magnificent monuments of the Vijayanagara empire while simultaneously improving critical visitor infrastructure. Their intervention with the Union Minister signals a push for a more holistic and responsible approach to managing one of India's most iconic historical treasures.
