STRENGTHENING OF TOURIST SAFETY
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 Tourism Police to strengthen on-ground safety mechanism for tourists. With the efforts of Ministry of Tourism, the State Governments /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 has been periodically requesting all State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for availing the benefits of the ‘Safe Tourism Destination for Women’ under Nirbhaya fund which can be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women tourists.
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 to basic rights like dignity, safety and freedom from exploitation of both tourists and local residents, in particular, women and children.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today
(updaed on 8th march 26)