Bhubaneswar, May 14: In a bid to identify risk areas for employees within the tourism industry and to generate awareness on AIDS, State AIDS Control Society and the Indian tourism ministry jointly conducted a sensitisation workshop for tourist guides today.

“The participants were told about how and why HIV and AIDS are dangerous. Discussions were also held on vulnerability factors and groups vulnerable to exposure were identified,” said Gobinda Bhuyan, the assistant director of the Bhubaneswar office of the tourism ministry.

Participants were sensitised on the necessity of using condoms and sessions included counselling and testing at Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres and interaction with HIV positive people — mostly tourists.

Tourist guides, experts noted, could also share information regarding the schemes launched by the government to aid those living with HIV and AIDS.