Y.S. Rana
CHANDIGARH : Of the one billion people in the world who have no toilet, India accounts for nearly 600 million. It is revealed in a survey conducted by HolidayIQ.com, country’s largest travel community with over 20 lakh members from 80 plus Indian cities. The survey was conducted to understand the current scenario and importance of clean restrooms, while travelling.
It has surveyed more than 10, 000 travellers from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune and it states that country direly needs a toilet revolution if it needs to bring in revenue from tourism. It is in most frequented sightseeing sites in India travellers often complained about standing in long lines outside stinking toilets and rank it is worst tourist experiences in the world.
Access to cleaner toilets on a holiday is one of the key requirements of a traveller and a relevant factor in his consideration set. It also influences the choice of holiday destinations and mode of travel. Poorly maintained restrooms at some of India’s most renowned and most famous tourist attractions is an issue many travellers face today.
Eighty-eight per cent restrooms at railway stations are dirty and except for airports (11 per cent), no other public place stands good in the list of provision of clean toilets. Public places in cities (87.90 per cent); public places on highway (71.51 per cent) and religious and heritage places (79.17 per cent) require major improvement in toilet facilities. The government and the authorities have failed in providing the level of cleanliness that is required, stated Mr. Hari Nair, Founder & CEO, HolidayIQ.com.
According to dirtiness quotient Kolkata tops the list with 74 per cent followed by 72 per cent Mumbai and Chennai 71 per cent; Pune 50 per cent; Delhi 47 per cent and Hyderabad 31 per cent. When the people were asked about the city whicy they found cleanest public toilets, 59 per cent said none.
Being India's largest travel community, this survey aims to reflect the voice of Indian travellers. We are also inspired by our Prime Minster Narendra Modi ‘Clean India’ campaign which emphasizes on the need of establishing ‘well-maintained’ toilets across Indian cities. Sanitation is a huge priority for tourists, women in particular. 52 per cent of women have said that they have their intended holiday destination or mode of travel owing to discomfort
with the level of cleanliness. Especially women with children in tow.
The United Nations has dedicated November 19 as ‘World Toilet Day’ to focus attention on a critical health need for 2.5 billion people in developing countries including India – for sanitary.