Lok Sabha Question No. 5159 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Security of Foreign Travellers
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5159 ANSWERED ON 04.04.2022

## SECURITY OF FOREIGN TRAVELLERS

5159. SHRI B.B. PATIL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure adequate security of foreign tourists in the country;
- (b)     the number of foreign tourists who visited India during the last three years; and
- (c)     the  number of cases of misbehaving with foreigners reported during the said period along with the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TOURISM                              (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a): 'Public  Order'  and  'Police'  and  prevention  of  crime  including safety  &  security  of  Tourists  are  State  subjects.  However,  the Ministry  of  Tourism  has  taken  following  steps  to  encore  adequate security of the foreign tourists in the country are as under:
- (i) The Ministry of Tourism, the State Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations  of  Delhi,  Goa, Himachal  Pradesh,  Jammu  &  Kashmir,  Karnataka,  Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan,  Andhra  Pradesh  and  Sikkim  have  deployed  tourist police, in one form or the other for the safety and security of Tourists.
- (ii) The  Bureau  of  Police  Research  and  Development,  Ministry  of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, has constituted a Committee with Ministry of Tourism as a member for the purpose of setting up of  Dedicated  Call  Centres  with  Police  Personnel  at  important tourist  destinations  with  high  footfalls.  The  Ministry  of  Home
- Affairs has also addressed letters to Chief Secretaries/ Administrators of States / Union Territories for implementation of pilot projects on Tourist Police at important tourist places. (iii) The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  the  24x7  Multi-Lingual Tourist Info-Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12 Languages including 10 international language, Hindi & English in February 2016 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. (iv) 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.
- (b): The number of foreign tourists who visited India during the last three years are as under:- :

@:  Provisional Source: Bureau of Immigration

| Year   | Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs)   |
|--------|-----------------------------------|
| 2019   | 1,09,30,355                       |
| 2020   | 27,44,766                         |
| 2021 @ | 14,12,129                         |

(c): National Crime Records Bureau, (NCRB) maintains Head - wise cases registered, cases charge- sheeted, cases convicted, persons arrested,  persons  charge-  sheeted  and  persons  convicted  under crime against foreigners. However, it was informed that NCRB has no information on cases of misbehaving with foreigners.

*********