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.
˜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.
The State Governments/Union Territory Administrations of Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh have deployed Tourist Police, in one form or the other.
The other measures taken by the Ministry of Tourism towards safety and security of domestic and foreign tourists including women travelers are:
i) Issuance of guidelines for formation of Tourist Facilitation and Security Organisation (TFSO) comprising of ex-servicemen in consultation with Ministry of Defence, Home and Directorate General of Re-settlement.
ii) Grant of Central Financial Assistance to Government of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh for setting up of TFSO on a pilot basis.
iii) Adoption of code of conduct for Safe and Honorable 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) Letters have been written to all the Chief Ministers of the State Governments and Administrators of Union Territory Administrations to take immediate effective steps for ensuring 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.
v) In the wake of some unfortunate incidents involving foreign tourists, Ministry of Tourism has posted an advisory on its website www.incredibleindia.org.
