Safety and Security of tourists is essentially a State subject. However, the Ministry of Tourism has been continuously taking up the matter with all the State Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations for setting up of dedicated Tourism Police to strengthen on-ground safety mechanism for tourists. With the efforts of Ministry of Tourism, the State Governments /UT’s viz Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh have deployed tourist police.

 

As a part of the Ministry’s continuous endeavors to make travel for tourists safe and secure, the Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12 Languages including 10 international languages for domestic and foreign tourists to provide support service in term of information relating to travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress, while travelling within India.

 

Ministry of Tourism has been periodically requesting all State Governments and Union Territories for availing the benefits of the ‘Safe Tourism Destination for Women’ under Nirbhaya fund which can be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women tourists.

 

The Ministry of Tourism along with all stakeholders, including the Tourism Departments of all States and UTs, have adopted the 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism' which is a set of guidelines to encourage tourism activities to be undertaken with respect to basic right like dignity, safety and freedom from exploitation of both tourists and local residents, in particular, women and children.

 

Processing of e-visa is totally on the online platform. A foreigner can apply for evisa from anywhere. Introduction of e-visa has helped in providing hassle-free entry to foreigners into India for legitimate purposes like tourism, business and medical purposes. E-visa has become very popular among foreigners which is evident from the fact that the number of e-visa issued has gone up rapidly over the last few years.

 

The Ministry of Tourism launched the revamped version of Incredible India Digital Platform (IIDP) as a comprehensive resource for travelers and stakeholders interested in exploring the country’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and diverse attractions. The IIDP uses an AI-powered tool that personalizes visitor experiences by offering real-time weather updates, city exploration and essential travel services. It is supported by a mobile application available on both iOS and Android platforms and includes a content hub for sharing and managing digital assets. The portal has partnered with several OTAs (Online Travel Agents) and Stakeholders for seamless booking of flights, hotels, cabs, and buses and tickets for `ASI monuments. integrated with the National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry (NIDHI) portal to provide information on registered tour operators and travel agents.

 

With the objective of making Indian among the top tourist destination in the world, the Ministry of Tourism has been continuously working very closely with line Ministries for transportation connectivity, information systems and emergency services in the country to make tourists' journeys safer and more convenient.

 

This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

 

****

 

Sunil Kumar Tiwari

tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com

 

 

(Release ID: 2223773) Visitor Counter : 131