Lok Sabha Question No. 3658 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-21
Subject: Travel Advisory
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, OM BIRLA, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, SUDHEER GUPTA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SULTAN  AHMED, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, KIRIT SOMAIYA, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, RODMAL NAGAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3658 ANSWERED ON 21.12.2015

## TRAVEL ADVISORY

## 3658. SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI OM BIRLA:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI SULTAN AHMED:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  some  countries  including  Russia  has  struck  India  particularly Goa from the list of safe travel destinations for its citizens recently and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b)
- its likely impact the tourism industry in India including Goa;
- whether  the  Government  has  taken  up  the  matter  with  the  Russian
- (c) Government;
- (d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
- (e) the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  India  a safe destination for foreign tourists?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) and (b): No,  Madam.  Important  source  markets  like  USA,  UK, Germany, Australia including Russia have not struck India in particular Goa, from the list of safe travel destinations for its citizens. However, some  countries  have  advised  their  citizens  to  exercise  necessary precautions while travelling to some parts of India.

As regards the impact on the tourism industry, there is a continuous  increase  in  Foreign  Tourist  Arrivals  (FTAs)  in  India  in  the recent past. The numbers of FTAs in India along with growth rate during 2012, 2013, 2014 and January - November 2015 are as follows:

| Year                         |   FTAs (in million) |   Growth rate (%) |
|------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
| 2012                         |                6.58 |               4.3 |
| 2013                         |                6.97 |               5.9 |
| 2014                         |                7.68 |              10.2 |
| Jan - Nov 2015 (Provisional) |                7.1  |               4.5 |

The  increase  in  number  of  Foreign  Tourist  Visits  (FTVs)  to  the State of Goa during 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 are as under:

|   Year | Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs)   |
|--------|---------------------------------|
|   2011 | 4,45,935                        |
|   2012 | 4,50,530                        |
|   2013 | 4,92,322                        |
|   2014 | 5,13,592                        |

(c) and (d):

Does not arise.

Details  of  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure

(e): safety and security of tourists is placed at Annexure.

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QUESTION NO.3658 ANSWERED ON 21.12.2015 TRAVEL ADVISORY.

## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED REGARDING

'Public  Order'  and  'Police'  are  State  subjects  as  per  the Seventh  Schedule  of the Constitution of India. As such, the prevention of crime, including crimes against tourists, is the primary responsibility  of  State  Governments/Union  Territories.  In  order  to ensure  safety  and  security  of  tourists,  including  foreign  tourists, Ministry  of  Tourism  has  advised  all  the  State  Governments/Union Territory Administrations to deploy Tourist Police in the States/Union Territories. The State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha have deployed Tourist Police in one form or the other.

In  order  to  ensure  safety  and  security  of  tourists,  including foreign tourists, the Ministry of Tourism has taken following steps:

- i. The Ministry of Tourism, on a pilot basis, has set up the 'Incredible India Help Line' to guide the tourists.
- ii. Grant of Central Financial Assistance to Government of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh for setting up  of  Tourist  Facilitation  and  Security  Organisation (TFSO) on a pilot basis.
- iii. 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.
- iv. 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.
- v. In  the  wake  of  some  unfortunate  incidents  involving foreign tourists, Ministry of Tourism has also posted an advisory on its website www.incredibleindia.org.
- vi. Guidelines  on  Safety  &  Security  of  Tourist  for  State Governments/Union  Territories  and  Tips  for  Travellers have been formulated in August 2014 and circulated to all  State  Governments  and  Union  Territories.   These guidelines have been issued with an objective to help/provide  direction  to  the  State  Governments  and Union Territory Administrations in formulating guidelines for  tourists  safety  and  security.   The  guidelines  also includes 'tips for travelers' and  cover the following:
- i. Precautions to be taken during pre-travel arrangements.
- ii. Travel  information  on  calamities  /  situations by the State Government.
- iii. Identifying, locating tourists in times of emergency.
- iv. Government communication and inter agency coordination.
- v. Regulations  of  service  providers  (Transport Services, Accommodation Sector).  Regulating leisure and  recreational services including adventure sports.
- vi. Address insolvencies and dispute settlement.
- vii. Enforcement.

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