Childhood Project-Prevention Pillar actively deployed by Binh Thuan tourism sector

Child Safe Tourism campaign arms travellers with knowledge and information on simple actions to protect children and young people from abuse in tourism areas.

Childhood Project-Prevention Pillar is an initiative of Australia Aid (AusAID) implemented by World Vision with Child Safe Tourism campaignto combat the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism in the Mekong sub-region countries (including Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia). Binh Thuan is among 30 provinces/cities with deveploped tourism sector sellected for the deployment of Childhood Project in Vietnam. According to Mr. Vo Xuan Nghia-Deputy Chief Inspector-Department of Culture-Sports and Tourism, a total of 900 promotional materials were delivered to 60 accomodations (with more than 3,800 rooms) and 11 travel agencies/tour operators across the province. In particular, Child Protection Commitments (English-Vietnamese languages) are being put at reception areas as billboards to confirm the businesses’s commitment on child protection; tentcards are available in rooms of hotels/guesthouses; and brochures are being distributed to visitors at tourists destinations. These materials will help enhance awareness of taking responsibilities for child protection among tourism enterprises and travellers. They also provides the Child Helpline on 18001567 for companies or visitors to report promptly in the case of any child protection concerns. Initially, most of accommodations and tour operators in Binh Thuan actively respond to the Child Safe Tourism campaign, contributing to joining hands with local tourism sector to maintain a safe travel environment for all children.

The first stage of Project Childhood Prevention Pillar-Safe Child Tourism campaign (2012-2014) has been implemented basing on an cooperation agreement signed by theInspectorate – Ministry of Culture-Sports and Tourism, AusAID, and World Vision Vietnam in June 2012.

Phuong Lan (Source: Binh Thuan Online)