Lok Sabha Question No. 1139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Safe Travel of Foreigners
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Smt. Malvika Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1139

## ANSWERED ON 29.07.2023

## SAFE TRAVEL OF FOREIGNERS

## 1139 SMT. MALVIKA DEVI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  safe  travel of foreigners in the country specially in rural areas;
- (b) the  details  of  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure that no harmful effects of the hotel industry would be effected the environment specially in ecological  systems like tiger reserve etc.; and
- (c) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  for  increasing
- the four Dhaam Yatra?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM         (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a): Safety and Security of tourists is essentially a State Government subject. However, the Ministry of Tourism has been continuously taking up  the  matter  with  all  the  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 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, in one form or the other.

As a part of its endeavours to make travel for tourists safe and secure, the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  set  up  a  24x7  Multi-Lingual  Tourist  InfoHelpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12  Languages  including  10  international  languages  (German,  French, Spanish,  Italian,  Portuguese,  Russian,  Chinese,  Japanese,  Korean,

Arabic), Hindi and English 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.

(b): Ministry  of  Tourism  classifies  operational  hotels  under  the  star rating system and approves hotel projects under its voluntary scheme of classification/approval of hotels/hotel projects. As per the guidelines laid down  by  the  Ministry, the hotels are classified taking into consideration of various parameters viz. No Objection Certificates from Fire  Department,  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change and  consent  to  operate  from  State  Pollution  Control  Board,  CRZ clearance (wherever applicable), sewage treatment plant etc., including at ecologically sensitive areas.

- (c): Under  the  National  Mission  on  'Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual Augmentation Drive' (PRASHAD), Ministry of Tourism supported integrated  development  of  Kedarnath  Dham.  The  Ministry  has  also provided funds for development of infrastructure for pilgrimage facilitation in  Badrinath  ji  Dham  and  augmentation  of  pilgrimage infrastructure facilities at Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham.

Ministry of Tourism also promotes tourism destinations and products of India  including  both  in  domestic  and  global  markets.  Promotion  is carried  out  through  various  initiatives  including  events  and  social media.  Some  of  the  campaigns  and  schemes  for  such  promotions organized  by  the  Ministry  are  Dekho  Apna  Desh  (DAD),  Bharat  Parv, International Tourism Mart (ITM) and Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat which include promotion of Char Dham Yatra.

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  Department  of  Tourism,  Government  of Uttarakhand have informed that they, along with related departments like  medical,  police  and  disaster  management,  etc.,  organizes  the Chardham Yatra, every year. For an easy and convenient yatra for the pilgrims, the department has implemented the following measures:

- i. Online registration of pilgrims
- ii. WhatsApp registration
3. iii.
4. Registration through a mobile app
- iv. Queue management and token distribution for darshan (holy viewing)
- v. 24/7 Helpdesk and Control Room for tourists
- vi. Promotion and dissemination of information regarding Chardham  through  various  platforms  of  digital  and  print media.

They have informed further that the Char Dhaam Yatra is a significant event for which weather forecasts are crucial due to the region's terrain and  altitude.  The  Indian  Meteorological  Department  (IMD)  provides special  forecasts  and  advisories  specifically  tailored  for  pilgrimage season to ensure the safety and comfort of the pilgrims.

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