Privacy Policy - Explore Tourist Places

Privacy Policy for Explore Tourist Places

Effective Date: November 12, 2025
Last Updated: November 12, 2025

At Explore Tourist Places (“we,” “us,” or “our”), we are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data responsibly. This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect personal data when you interact with our website https://exploretouristplaces.com (the “Website”), which provides informational travel guides, articles on hotels, homestays, resorts, restaurants, activities, and destinations to assist travelers worldwide. As an India-based entity operating under Indian laws, we comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (“DPDPA”), the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”), and related rules, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 (“DPDP Rules”). Given our global audience, we also align with applicable international standards, such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for EEA users, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents, and similar laws where relevant, to ensure comprehensive protection.

This Policy applies to all users (“you” or “Data Principal”) accessing the Website from India or internationally. If you are under 18, please review this with a parent or guardian. By using the Website, you consent to the practices described herein. If you do not agree, please do not use the Website.

We act as the Data Fiduciary under DPDPA, meaning we determine the purpose and means of processing your personal data. Our processing is limited to legitimate purposes like enhancing user experience and service improvement, with data minimization and purpose limitation principles applied.

1. Information We Collect

We collect only the personal data necessary for our operations. Personal data under DPDPA means any data about an identifiable individual. Below is a summary table of key categories:

Data Category	Examples	Collection Method	Purpose
Contact Information	Name, email, phone	Direct (forms, newsletters)	Communication, subscriptions
Usage & Device Data	IP address, browser type, pages viewed	Automatic (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel)	Analytics, personalization
Preferences	Travel interests (e.g., destinations)	Opt-in interactions	Content recommendations
Device Tokens	For push notifications	Subscriptions	Alerts on new articles
Location	Approximate geolocation (IP-based)	Automatic (with consent for precision)	Travel tips

Personal Data You Provide Directly:
Contact information: Name, email address, phone number (e.g., via contact forms or newsletter subscriptions).
User-generated content: Comments, feedback, or travel queries shared on the site.
Preferences: Travel interests (e.g., destinations, hotel types) inferred from interactions, if you opt-in via forms or subscriptions.
Device tokens: For push notifications, if you subscribe (e.g., browser or app permissions for alerts on new travel articles).
Automatically Collected Data (Non-Personal and Personal):
Device and usage data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device ID, pages viewed, time spent, referral sources (tracked via Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel).
Location data: Approximate geolocation from IP (not precise unless consented for travel recommendations).
Cookies and tracking technologies: See Section 4 for details.
Data from Third Parties:
Analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics): Aggregated usage data, including demographics and interests for global users.
Social media plugins (e.g., Facebook Pixel): If you interact (e.g., share articles), profile data from platforms like Facebook.
Advertising and affiliate partners: Anonymized data for performance tracking on affiliate links (e.g., clicks to hotel booking sites).

We do not collect sensitive personal data (e.g., health, financial details, biometric) unless explicitly required for a consented purpose (e.g., travel accessibility queries) and only with verifiable consent. For children under 18, we collect data only with verifiable parental consent, as per DPDP Rules.

Notice at Collection: At each point of collection, we provide a clear notice specifying the purpose, how to withdraw consent, and your rights. For example, newsletter sign-up notices: “We collect your email to send travel updates; you can unsubscribe anytime.” For push notifications: “We collect your device token to send alerts; manage via browser settings.” For affiliate links: “Clicking this link may share anonymized click data with partners like Booking.com for commissions.”

2. How We Use Your Information

We use personal data only for specified, legitimate purposes under DPDPA (e.g., consent or legitimate interests like site improvement). Uses include:

Providing and Improving Services: Personalizing content (e.g., recommending articles based on past views via Google Analytics), responding to queries via contact forms, and analyzing site performance to refine travel guides.
Communication: Sending newsletters or push notifications with travel updates (with opt-out options at any time).
Analytics and Research: Aggregating data for trends (e.g., popular destinations) to enhance articles; no individual profiling without consent.
Legal Compliance: Fraud prevention, dispute resolution, or responding to lawful requests.
Marketing and Affiliates: With consent, targeted emails, push notifications, or ads about travel tips. For affiliate links, tracking clicks to measure performance and earn commissions (e.g., from partners like hotel booking platforms), without selling your data.

Processing is based on: (i) your consent; (ii) necessary for contract performance (e.g., query responses); (iii) legitimate interests (balanced against your rights, e.g., site security); or (iv) legal obligations. We conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) for high-risk processing, per DPDP Rules. For global users, we apply equivalent bases (e.g., GDPR legitimate interests assessments).

3. Sharing and Disclosure of Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. Sharing is limited to:

Affiliates and Service Providers: With group companies or processors (e.g., Google for Analytics, Facebook for Pixel, email services like Mailchimp for newsletters, or hosting like AWS) under strict contracts ensuring DPDPA and international compliance (e.g., data minimization, security safeguards). They process on our behalf and cannot use data for their purposes.
Business Partners: Anonymized data for analytics; consented sharing with affiliate partners (e.g., if you click a hotel link, we share click data like IP and timestamp for commission tracking, with prior notice on the link). Examples include partners like Booking.com or Agoda.
Legal Requirements: To comply with laws, court orders, or government authorities (e.g., under IT Act Section 69 for national security). We notify you unless prohibited.
Corporate Transactions: In mergers or acquisitions, with safeguards for your rights.
Third-Party Links: The Website may link to external sites (e.g., affiliate hotel bookings); we are not responsible for their privacy practices—review theirs.

All sharing includes consent where required, and we verify recipients’ compliance via contracts or audits. For international transfers to non-adequate jurisdictions (e.g., US-based Google), we use safeguards like Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).

4. Cookies and Similar Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, pixels, and SDKs to enhance functionality, security, and analytics. Types:

Essential: For site navigation (no consent needed).
Analytics: Track usage (e.g., Google Analytics for global traffic insights; consent via banner).
Marketing: Personalized ads and affiliate tracking (e.g., Facebook Pixel; opt-out available).

Our Cookie Policy (linked here) details categories and controls. On first visit, a consent banner appears for non-essential cookies, verifiable and granular per DPDP Rules. You can manage preferences via browser settings or our tool. Rejecting may limit features like personalized recommendations or push notifications. We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals and Do Not Track (DNT) requests.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures per DPDPA and IT Act (e.g., Section 43A): encryption (AES-256 for data at rest/transit), access controls (role-based), firewalls, regular audits, and employee training. Despite efforts, no system is infallible—we cannot guarantee absolute security. In case of a breach, we notify affected users and the Data Protection Board (DPB) without undue delay (within 72 hours, per DPDP Rules), including details on impacts and remedies. For GDPR/CCPA users, notifications align with their timelines (e.g., 72 hours under GDPR).

6. Your Rights as a Data Principal

Under DPDPA, you have rights exercisable via our contact form at https://exploretouristplaces.com/contact or email contact@exploretouristplaces.com. We respond within 30 days (extendable for complexity). For global users, we honor additional rights (e.g., GDPR portability, CCPA opt-out of sales—note: we do not “sell” under CCPA definitions):

Access: Confirm processing and obtain a summary.
Correction: Update inaccurate/incomplete data.
Erasure: Delete data when no longer needed (subject to legal retention).
Nomination: Appoint a successor for rights post-death.
Grievance Redressal: Lodge complaints with our Grievance Officer (details below); escalate to DPB if unresolved within 30 days.
Withdraw Consent: Anytime, without affecting prior processing; may impact services like newsletters or push notifications.
Restriction/Objection: For legitimate interests or direct marketing.

CCPA-Specific: California residents may opt out of any “sale” or “sharing” of personal information (we do not sell data but share for affiliates): Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information (link to a simple form). No discrimination for exercising rights.

EEA/UK Users (GDPR): Additional details on legal bases and representatives available upon request.

7. Children’s Privacy

The Website is not directed at children under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from them without verifiable parental consent (e.g., parent email verification). If discovered, we delete it promptly. Parents can contact us to review or delete.

8. International Data Transfers

Data may be transferred outside India (e.g., to US-based processors like Google or Facebook). We ensure adequacy or safeguards: Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), binding corporate rules, or government notifications under DPDPA Section 16. Transfers are logged, and you can request details. For EEA users, we maintain GDPR-compliant mechanisms.

9. Data Retention and Deletion

We retain data only as necessary: e.g., contact data for 3 years post-interaction; analytics for 26 months (Google Analytics standard); newsletter subscriptions until unsubscribed. Upon request or purpose fulfillment, we securely delete or anonymize (e.g., pseudonymization). Backups may retain for 90 days for recovery.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy to reflect legal changes or operations. Material updates will be notified via email, push notification, or site banner 30 days in advance. Continued use post-update implies consent.

11. Contact Us and Grievance Redressal

For questions, rights exercises, or complaints:

Primary Contact: Email contact@exploretouristplaces.com or use our contact form at https://exploretouristplaces.com/contact.
Grievance Officer (per IT Rules, 2021): Name: Siddhant Priyadarshi
Postal address: #198, Celebrity Layout, Electronic City, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Email: siddhant@exploretouristplaces.com.
The Grievance Officer will acknowledge complaints within 3 business days and aims to provide a decision within 15 days of receipt. If unresolved you may escalate to the Data Protection Board of India.

This Policy is governed by Indian law, with jurisdiction in Bangalore courts. For EU users, alternative dispute resolution via the EU Online Dispute Resolution platform.