**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism has undertaken several initiatives to enhance tourist safety, convenience, and transparency. These include setting up a 24x7 multi-lingual tourist helpline, promoting safe tourism for women, and introducing an online system for tourism service provider approvals. This announcement was made on February 5, 2026, and contains information provided by the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Tourist Safety and Security:**
* The Ministry is working with State Governments and UT Administrations to establish dedicated Tourism Police.
* A 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline has been established on the toll-free number 1800111363 or short code 1363, supporting 12 languages to provide travel information and guidance.
* States and UTs are encouraged to utilize the 'Safe Tourism Destination for Women' initiative under the Nirbhaya fund.
* The 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honorable Tourism' has been adopted to ensure dignity, safety, and freedom from exploitation for tourists and local residents.
* **Online Systems and Connectivity:**
* An online system for receiving, processing, and granting approvals for tourism service providers has been introduced (nidhi.tourism.gov.in).
* This online process is integrated with a payment gateway.
* The Ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to improve air connectivity to tourist destinations.
* Coordination involves the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-Udan) and Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for 53 tourism routes.
* **E-Visa Information**
* There are 14 sub-categories of e-visa for India.
* The e-Visa scheme is available to nationals of 175 countries.
* E-Visa is valid for entry through 38 designated airports, 16 designated seaports, and 2 land ports.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Tourists**
* **Impact:** Improved safety and access to information, safer destinations for women tourists, and easier visa accessibility.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the helpline (1800111363 or 1363) for assistance and information while travelling. Familiarize themselves with the "Code of Conduct" and E-Visa guidelines.
**Stakeholder: State Governments and UT Administrations**
* **Impact:** Expected to strengthen on-ground safety mechanisms, utilize available funds for safe tourism, and align with the 'Code of Conduct.'
* **Action Required:** Establish dedicated Tourism Police, avail the benefits of the 'Safe Tourism Destination for Women' under Nirbhaya fund, and implement the 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honorable Tourism.'
**Stakeholder: Tourism Service Providers**
* **Impact:** A more transparent and accountable approval process.
* **Action Required:** File applications for approvals through the online portal (nidhi.tourism.gov.in).
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Civil Aviation**
* **Impact:** Collaborate to improve air connectivity to tourist destinations.
* **Action Required:** Coordinate with the Ministry of Tourism under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-Udan) and Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for 53 tourism routes.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The central government ministry responsible for the development and promotion of tourism in India. It established the 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline.
24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline: A nationwide tourist helpline (1800111363 or short code 1363) set up by the Ministry of Tourism to provide support and guidance to tourists in multiple languages.
NIDHI+: National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry, an online system introduced by the Ministry of Tourism for receiving, processing and conveying approvals for classification of accommodation units and recognition of Tourism Service Providers.
Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-Udan): A scheme coordinated between the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Civil Aviation to improve air connectivity to tourist destinations.
Code of Conduct for Safe & Honorable Tourism: A set of guidelines adopted by the Ministry of Tourism and other stakeholders to encourage tourism activities with respect for dignity, safety, and freedom from exploitation.
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24x7 Multi-
Lingual Tourist Helpline
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 3:38PM by PIB Delhi
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.
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 for domestic and foreign tourists to
provide support service in term of information relating to travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance
to tourists in distress, while travelling within India.
Ministry of Tourism has been periodically requesting all State Governments and Union Territories 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 & Honorable Tourism' which is a set of guidelines to
encourage tourism activities to be undertaken with respect to basic right like dignity, safety and freedom
from exploitation of both tourists and local residents, in particular, women and children.
With a view to bring in more transparency, accountability and improved service delivery, the Ministry of
Tourism introduced an online system of receiving, processing and conveying/ granting approvals for
classification of accommodation units and recognition of Tourism Service Providers. Applications can be
filed at the portal of National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry (NIDHI+), i.e.
nidhi.tourism.gov.in. This online process has also been integrated with payment gateway.
Effective and adequate connectivity is one of the important aspects for developing a tourist destination.
Ministry of Tourism is working very closely with Ministry of Civil Aviation for improving the air
connectivity to important tourist destinations and to lesser known/new destinations with high potential. It
has coordinated with Ministry of Civil Aviation under their Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-Udan)
and sharing the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) amount for the 53 tourism routes identified for this purpose.At present there are fourteen sub-categories of e-visa (i.e. e-Tourist Visa, e-Business Visa, e-Medical Visa,
e-Conference Visa, e-Medical Attendant Visa, e-Ayush Visa, e-Ayush Attendant Visa, e-Student Visa, e-
Student Dependent Visa, e-Transit Visa, e- Mountaineering Visa, e- Film Visa, e- Entry Visa and e-
Production Investment Visa). e-Visa scheme is now available to the nationals of 175 countries. e-Visa is
valid for entry through 38 designated Airports, 16 designated seaports and 02 land ports.
The Ministry has not undertaken a dedicated impact study specifically examining the impact of these
measures on tourist arrivals, satisfaction, or overall regional growth.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
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