Lok Sabha Question No. 25 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-18
Subject: Status of Safe Tourist Destination
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Umesh G. Jadhav, Jaisiddeshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji, S. Muniswamy, B. Y. Raghavendra, Prathap Simha, Annasaheb Shankar Jolle

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.25

## ANSWERED ON 18.07.2022

## STATUS OF SAFE TOURIST DESTINATION

25. DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

SHRI SHA.BRA.DR.JAI SIDDESHWAR SHIVACHARYA

MAHASWAMIJI:

SHRI S. MUNISWAMY:

SHRI B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA:

SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- whether the main reasons for the country not achieving the status of  one  of  the  most  attractive  tourist  attractions  globally  are  the safety, security, cheating by shopkeepers, drivers of hired vehicles, unfriendly  behaviour  of  local  people,  lack  of  quality  facilities,
- (a) economic exploitation, etc.;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  detailed  factfinding  study  during  the  last  five  years  for  each  of  the  States  to identify  the  negative  factors  for  sluggish  growth  in  domestic  and international tourism sector; and
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  action  proposed  to  be initiated by the Government in consultation with States?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a): Safety  &  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  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 in one form or the other. Further, 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  &  Honorable  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. (b) & (c): Promotion and development of tourism is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/UT Administrations. However, in order to revive the tourism sector post Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry has effectively used its social media handles to raise Social Awareness through its messages, sensitizing social distance, safe and responsible travel,  use  of  mask  while  travelling,  downloading  of  Arogya  Setu  App, promoting  the  initiatives  undertaken  for  the  industry  etc.  In  order  to promote India as a destination overseas, the Ministry adopts integrated marketing  and  promotional  strategy,  and  a  synergized  campaign  in association with  the  Travel  Trade,  State  Governments  and  Indian Missions and includes participation in international Fairs & Exhibitions, organizing  Know  India  Seminars,  Workshops,  Road  Shows  and  India Evenings,  Brochure  Support,  Joint  Advertising  with  Travel  Agents/Tour Operators, organizing and supporting Indian Food and Cultural Festivals, publication of brochures and inviting the tour operators, media personalities, opinion makers  etc. to visit the country under the Hospitality Programme of the Ministry. As a result, India received 1.6 million (Provisional) Foreign Tourist Arrivals during January to June 2022 in contrast to 0.4 million during the same period of year 2021.

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