**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Minister of Tourism's response to a parliamentary question regarding the safety of foreign tourists in India. The response, dated December 8, 2025, addresses concerns about harassment and assault, the impact on India's tourism reputation, existing complaint mechanisms, and their adequacy. Key action is for State Governments and Union Territories to use the Nirbhaya Fund to improve the safety and security of women tourists.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **State Subject:**
* Safety and security of tourists is essentially a State subject.
* **Ministry's Efforts:**
* The Ministry of Tourism continuously engages with State Governments and Union Territory Administrations to establish dedicated Tourist Police to enhance on-ground safety.
* Several States/UTs (Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, and Uttar Pradesh) have already deployed tourist police.
* **Complaint Mechanisms:**
* The Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) portal receives tourism-related complaints and suggestions.
* Foreign tourists can register complaints on the CPGRAMS portal with an Indian registered mobile number.
* A 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline is available via toll-free number 1800111363 or short code 1363 in 12 languages (including 10 international languages).
* **Nirbhaya Fund:**
* A dedicated non-lapsable corpus fund (Nirbhaya Fund), administered by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, is available.
* The fund is intended for projects designed to improve the safety and security of women.
* State Governments and Union Territories are periodically requested to utilize the Nirbhaya Fund for ‘Safe Tourism Destinations for Women’.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments and Union Territories**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for the safety and security of tourists within their jurisdiction.
* Can leverage the Nirbhaya Fund for projects improving the safety of women tourists.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to set up dedicated Tourist Police.
* Utilize the Nirbhaya Fund to improve safety and security measures for women tourists in their respective regions.
**Foreign Tourists**
* **Impact:**
* Increased availability of safety measures such as Tourist Police in certain regions.
* Access to a centralized complaint mechanism through the CPGRAMS portal.
* Access to a 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline for information, support, and guidance in distress.
* **Action Required:**
* Utilize the CPGRAMS portal to register tourism-related complaints.
* Use the Tourist Helpline when requiring assistance, information or support in distress.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The primary government body addressing the safety and security of foreign tourists, promoting initiatives, and engaging with State Governments and Union Territories for dedicated Tourist Police setup.
Tourist Police: Dedicated police force in various States/UTs (Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, and Uttar Pradesh) established to strengthen the on-ground safety mechanism for tourists.
Nirbhaya Fund: A dedicated non-lapsable corpus fund administered by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, utilized for projects designed to improve the safety and security of women, including the 'Safe Tourism Destinations for Women' initiative.
CPGRAMS: Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System portal that receives complaints and suggestions related to tourism service delivery deficiency, available 24x7 for tourists to lodge grievances.
24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline: A helpline set up by the Ministry of Tourism available via toll-free number 1800111363 or short code 1363 in multiple languages (including international languages), providing support and guidance to tourists in distress.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1306
ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
SAFETY OF FOREIGN TOURISTS
1306.SHRI K E PRAKASH:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of recurring reports of
harassment and assault against tourists, particularly women and
foreign nationals;
(b) whether it has been assessed the impact of such incidents on
India’s global tourism reputation at a time when the Government is
promoting India as a premier global tourism hub;
(c) the details of the centralised complaint-registration mechanisms
currently available to tourists; and
(d) whether these systems are adequate, accessible, multilingual
and capable of handling emergency situations involving foreign
tourists especially women?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (d): 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 Tourist Police to strengthen
on-ground safety mechanism for tourists. With the efforts of Ministry of
Tourism, States/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 through the Centralized Public Grievance
Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) portal receives
complaints/grievances/suggestions related to service delivery
deficiency, cheating etc. The CPGRAMS portal is available to the citizens
24x7 to lodge their grievances related to tourism. The foreign tourists
can also register their complaints/grievances on the portal through Indian
registered mobile number. 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 (German, French, Spanish, Italian,
Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic), Hindi and
English for domestic and foreign tourists to provide support service in
terms of information relating to travel in India and to offer appropriate
guidance to tourists in distress, while travelling within India.
In addition, it is stated that the Government has set up a dedicated
non-lapsable corpus fund - Nirbhaya Fund, being administered by
Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, which can be
utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and
security of women.
Ministry of Tourism has been periodically requesting all State
Governments and Union Territories for availing the benefits of the ‘Safe
Tourism Destinations for Women’ under Nirbhaya fund which can be
utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and
security of women tourists.
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