Kathmandu, Jan. 30 -- The Tourism Ministry on Tuesday called an emergency meeting with key stakeholders to prevent the possible spread of multi-million dollar insurance scams involving bogus rescues amid worries that such fraudulent activities may dent the county's burgeoning tourism industry.

A highly-placed source at the ministry said that two crucial decisions have been made on Tuesday. Firstly, they are re-opening an investigation over Traveller Assist, who has been claiming to be underwriters of three insurance companies and secondly, speeding up the process to punish those involved in insurance scams involving bogus rescues in line with the investigation report of the government.

On July 30 last year, a government fact-finding com...