Centre Pushes Tourism Reforms to Enhance Tourist Safety and Accessibility

New Delhi, Feb 12: The Ministry of Tourism has outlined a series of reforms aimed at improving tourist safety, service delivery, and connectivity across India. While safety and security of tourists remain a State subject, the Centre said it has been actively engaging with States and Union Territories to strengthen on-ground safety mechanisms. With the Ministry’s efforts, dedicated Tourist Police units have been deployed in multiple regions, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, and Uttar Pradesh. To provide immediate assistance, the Ministry operates a 24×7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline (toll-free 1800111363 or short code 1363), offering support in 12 languages, including 10 international languages. The helpline assists both domestic and foreign tourists with travel-related information and guidance during distress situations. Focusing on women’s safety, the Ministry has urged States and UTs to utilize the ‘Safe Tourism Destination for Women’ initiative under the Nirbhaya Fund for projects designed to improve security for women travellers. Additionally, stakeholders have adopted the ‘Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism,’ promoting dignity, safety, and protection from exploitation, particularly for women and children. To enhance transparency and efficiency, the Ministry introduced an online approval system via the NIDHI+ portal for classification of accommodation units and recognition of tourism service providers, integrated with a payment gateway. The Ministry is also coordinating with the Ministry of Civil Aviation under the RCS-UDAN scheme, sharing Viability Gap Funding for 53 identified tourism routes to boost air connectivity. India’s e-visa programme now features 14 sub-categories, available to nationals of 175 countries through designated airports, seaports, and land ports. The government noted that no dedicated impact study has yet been conducted to assess the outcomes of these measures. The information was shared by the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.