Lok Sabha Question No. 1315 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-10
Subject: Crime against Tourists
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu, Diya Kumari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1315 ANSWERED ON 10.02.2020

## CRIME AGAINST TOURISTS

## 1315. SHRI T.R. BAALU:

MS. DIYA KUMARI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  tourism  industry  in  India  faces  challenges  of crime  and  perceptions  about  growth  in  drawing  visitors  to India and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure safety  for  foreign  travellers  in  India,  especially  for  female travellers;
- (c) the  mechanism  set  up  for  complaint  redressal  for  foreign travellers visiting India; and
- (d) the  details  of  cases  resolved  of  foreign  travellers  visiting India?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a) and (b): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  is  aware  that  safety  and security is one of the important factors that can impact tourism to the  country  and has taken various steps to ensure the safety and security  of  tourists,  including  foreign  tourists.  The  steps  taken include the following:
- (i) Security  of  tourists  is  essentially  a  State  Government subject. However, the Ministry of Tourism has taken up the  matter  with  all  State  Governments/  Union  Territory (UT) Administrations for setting up of dedicated Tourism Police. With the efforts of Ministry of Tourism, the State Governments/UT Administrations of Delhi, Goa, Himachal
- Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,  Odisha,  Punjab,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Uttar Pradesh,  Rajasthan  and  Andhra  Pradesh  have  deployed tourists police in one form or the other.
- (ii) The Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Info-Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or  on  a  short  code  1363  in  12  Languages  including  10 international languages, Hindi & English for domestic and foreign  tourists  to  provide  support  service  in  terms  of information  relating  to  Travel  in  India  and  also  offers appropriate guidance to tourists in distress while travelling in India.
- (iii) 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  for  basic  right  like  dignity,  safety  and  freedom from exploitation of both tourists and local residents in particular, women and children.
- (iv) The Ministry of Tourism has issued Guidelines on Safety and  Security  of  Tourists  for  State  Governments/Union Territories to stress on the importance of safety and risk management,  assist  in  identifying  best  practices  and encourage  closer  cooperation  for  ensuring  a  pleasant experience to the tourists.
- (v) The Ministry of Tourism conducts constant dialogue with Ministry of Home Affairs, State Governments/UT Administrations and various tourism related organisations/institutions for development and promotion  of  tourism  in  the  country  including  safe  and honourable Tourism.
- (c)  and  (d):  Complaints  regarding  deficiency  in  services  or  other issues  from  foreign  as  well  as  domestic  travellers  are  received  in the  Ministry  either  directly  from  the  complainants  or  through  the CPGRAMS portal. On receipt of such complaints, the matter is taken up with the concerned departments/service providers seeking clarification to facilitate resolution of the issues. In case instances of exploitation of tourists are brought to the notice of the Ministry of Tourism,  the  grievance  is  taken  up  with  the  concerned  State

Government/UT Administration since service providers are required to be registered/licensed under local rules / acts of the concerned State/UT. The complainant is also advised to approach the appropriate forum for redressal such as consumer court, on case to case basis. To  ensure  standardized  services  for  tourists,  the  Ministry  of Tourism Government of India gives approval to different categories of service providers in the Travel and Hospitality industries, which is purely a voluntary scheme and it is not mandatory for the service providers to seek approval of the Ministry for conducting business. In  case  of  complaints  of  serious  nature  against  the  approved service providers, the Ministry of Tourism may take action against them,  which  may  include  withdrawal  of  the  approval/re-approval granted.

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