Lok Sabha Question No. 1306 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Safety of Foreign Tourists
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri K E Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1306 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## SAFETY OF FOREIGN TOURISTS

## 1306.SHRI K E PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of recurring reports of harassment  and  assault  against  tourists,  particularly  women  and foreign nationals;
- (b) whether  it  has  been  assessed  the  impact  of  such  incidents  on India's global tourism reputation at a time when the Government is promoting India as a premier global tourism hub;
- (c) the  details  of  the  centralised  complaint-registration  mechanisms currently available to tourists; and
- (d) whether  these  systems  are  adequate,  accessible,  multilingual and  capable  of  handling  emergency  situations  involving  foreign tourists especially women?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM       (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (d):   Safety and Security of tourists is essentially a State subject. However, the Ministry of Tourism has been continuously taking up the matter  with  all the  State  Governments  and  Union  Territory  (UT) Administrations for setting up of dedicated Tourist Police to strengthen on-ground safety mechanism for tourists. With the efforts of Ministry of Tourism, States/UT's viz 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.

Ministry  of  Tourism  through  the  Centralized  Public  Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) portal receives complaints/grievances/suggestions related to service delivery deficiency, cheating etc. The CPGRAMS portal is available to the citizens 24x7 to lodge their grievances related to tourism. The foreign tourists can also register their complaints/grievances on the portal through Indian registered  mobile  number.  As  a  part  of  the  Ministry's  continuous endeavors to make travel for tourists safe and secure, the Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline 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 terms of information relating to travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress, while travelling within India. In addition, it is stated that the Government has set up a dedicated non-lapsable  corpus  fund  -  Nirbhaya  Fund,  being  administered  by Department  of  Economic  Affairs,  Ministry  of  Finance,  which  can  be utilized  for  projects  specifically  designed  to  improve  the  safety  and security of women.

Ministry of Tourism  has  been  periodically requesting all State Governments and Union Territories for availing the benefits of the 'Safe Tourism  Destinations  for  Women'  under  Nirbhaya  fund  which  can  be utilized  for  projects  specifically  designed  to  improve  the  safety  and security of women tourists.

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