Ministry Of Tourism Acknowledges Role Of Travel Influencers; Govt To Regulate Travel Content?

The travel decisions we made in the past were often influenced by recommendations from our near and dear ones, books, films and even articles on the website. Today, whether it’s trekking to a hidden temple or catching a bite at an iconic dhaba, it’s influencers that most of us credit for our travel decisions. Recently, the Ministry of Tourism raised concerns about the growing culture of travel influencers that comes with risks of misinformation. Here’s more about it.

Ministry Of Tourism Raises Concerns Of Travel Misinformation

As per a report by Travel Trade Journal, the Ministry of Tourism threw light on the role of travel influencers in India’s tourism industry recently. There is not yet any proposed certification system or code of conduct for travel content creators. However, the Ministry of Tourism stressed that it is responsible for the dissemination of responsible tourism information through various official channels.

Moreover, the government uses the Incredible India Digital Platform (IIDP). It also uses the government’s official social media handles to post accurate information about travel advisories, policy updates, destination details and more. The Ministry of Tourism acknowledged the rise in travel-related content on social media. And also clarified that it’s not feasible to monitor and regulate individual travel content creators across multiple platforms.

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Government To Regulate Online Travel Content?

This makes it easy for the spread of travel-related misinformation. The response by the Ministry of Tourism states that regulating any misleading tourism content is the responsibility of digital platforms instead of sector-specific ministries. Influencer marketing has become a key driver of tourism demand. So, there can be increased policy attention from travel influencers.

Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, sent a reply tothe  Rajya Sabha. According to the official reply, the Ministry doesn’t have a specific system in place to verify the authenticity and safety of influencer-led travel promotions. Since it’s user-generated, the travel content is outside the purview of government regulation.

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Meanwhile, do you feel that travel content by influencers needs to be verified by government sources to prevent misinformation?

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Guillermo Spelucin