Lok Sabha Question No. 341 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Crime against Foreign Tourists
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.341

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 TH  APRIL, 2016/ VAISAKHA 6, 1938 (SAKA)

CRIME AGAINST FOREIGN TOURISTS

341. SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY:

## Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  maintained  any  data  regarding various  crimes  including  heinous  crimes  committed  against  foreign tourists in order to frame a comprehensive policy in this regard;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that women from Commonwealth of Independent States are being brought to India on tourist Visa and are being forced into flesh trade;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and the number of such cases reported and the action taken against the guilty during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to curb such crimes in future?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (e): During the year 2015 the number of foreigners visited India were 80,27,133. In order to strengthen the Immigration system and monitor the entry and exit of foreigners, a modernization program viz. Mission Mode Project on Immigration, Visa, Foreigners' Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) has been implemented by the Government.  This

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project  aims  to  develop  a  secure  service  delivery  framework  to enhance  security  and  facilitation  by  integrating  the  visa  issuance process, Immigration  functions and  the Foreigners' Registration Process. The project seeks to provide unified access to the Immigration and Law enforcement authorities about the visa application data, immigration data, registration data and other relevant information about stay and travel of the foreigners in India, for effective tracking of the foreigners.

'Public Order' and 'Police' are state subjects.  As such, prevention of crime, including crime against tourists is the primary responsibility of the State Government/Union Territory. Details in this regard are not maintained centrally.

The measures taken by Government to ensure safety and security of tourists including foreign tourists are as below:- i)  The Ministry of Tourism has launched 24x7 Toll Free Multi-Lingual Tourist  Helpline  in  12  International  Languages  including  Hindi  & English   on  8.2.2016.    This  service  is  operational  all  days  in  a  year offering  a  'multi-lingual  helpdesk'  in  the  designated  languages     to provide support service in terms of  providing  information  relating  to

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Travel & Tourism in India to the domestic and International tourists and  to  assist  the  callers  with  advice  on  action  to  be  taken  during times  of  distress  while  travelling  in  India  and  if  need  be  alert  the concerned authorities. The languages handled by the Tourist Helpline include     ten  International  languages  besides  English  and  Hindi, namely, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

ii)  Adoption of code of conduct for Safe and Hon'ble Tourism, which contains  a  set  of  guidelines  to  encourage  tourism  activities  to  be undertaken  with  respect  to  basic  rights  like  dignity,  safety  and freedom  from  exploitation  of  both  tourists  and  local  residents,  in particular women and children.

iii) All the Chief Ministers of the State Governments and Administrators of Union Territory Administrations have been asked to take immediate effective steps for ensuring a conducive and friendly environment  for  all  tourists  and  also  request  them  to  publicize  the steps  being  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  to  increase  the  sense  of security amongst the present/prospective visitors and also to counter the negative publicity, if any.

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iv) The National Tourism Ministers' Conference was convened on 18th July,  2013 and 21st August 2014 in New Delhi which resolved   that the  Departments  of  Tourism  of  all  States  and  UTs  will  work  for ensuring the safety and security of tourists, especially women. The State  Governments  /  UT  Administrations  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha have deployed Tourist Police, in one form or the other.

v) Grant of Central Financial Assistance to the State Governments of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh for setting up of Tourist Facilitation and Security Organization (TFSO) on a pilot basis.

vi)  In  the  wake  of  some  unfortunate  incidents  happening  involving foreign tourists, Ministry of Tourism posts an advisory on its website www.incredibleindia.org.

vii) The Ministry of Tourism has issued  the Guidelines on Safety and Security of Tourists for State Governments /Union Territories and Tips for Travelers in September 2014.  These guidelines were sent to the State Governments/Union Territories and other relevant authorities to

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stress  the  importance  of  safety  and  risk  management,  assist  in identifying  best  practices  and  encourage  closer  cooperation  for ensuring  a  pleasant  experience  to  the  tourists.   The  Guidelines  are indicative references that may be useful to the States in sharing or adopting the best practices and design their domestic measures to better  protect  tourists.   In  addition  to  these  guidelines  'Tips  to Travellers' are also offered to make the visit of tourists to Incredible India, a memorable experience.

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