**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism is actively working to strengthen on-ground safety mechanisms for tourists in India. This includes collaborating with state governments and union territories, establishing multilingual helplines, and promoting safe tourism practices. The ministry is also working to improve connectivity to tourist destinations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Tourism Safety & Security Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Tourism is collaborating with state governments and Union Territory (UT) administrations to establish dedicated Tourism Police. States/UTs including 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.
* A 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline is available on toll-free number 1800111363 or short code 1363 in 12 languages (including 10 international languages).
* State Governments and Union Territories have been requested to utilize the ‘Safe Tourism Destination for Women' under Nirbhaya fund.
* The 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism' has been adopted by the Ministry of Tourism and stakeholders to encourage responsible tourism activities with respect to dignity, safety and freedom from exploitation.
* **Improved Services:**
* An online system for processing approvals for classification of accommodation units and recognition of Tourism Service Providers has been introduced through the NIDHI+ portal (nidhi.tourism.gov.in) and is integrated with a payment gateway.
* **Improved Connectivity:**
* The Ministry of Tourism is collaborating with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to improve air connectivity to tourist destinations, including lesser-known destinations via the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-Udan).
* Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is being shared for 53 tourism routes.
* **E-Visa Expansion:**
* E-visa scheme covers 14 sub-categories and is available to nationals of 175 countries, with entry through 38 designated airports, 16 seaports, and 2 land ports.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders:** State Governments / UT Administrations
* **Impact:** Required to establish and maintain dedicated Tourism Police.
* **Action Required:** Deploy tourist police in key areas and continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism.
**Stakeholders:** Tourists (Domestic and Foreign)
* **Impact:** Enhanced safety, security, and access to information through the multilingual helpline and improved tourism infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the helpline and report any issues to the relevant authorities.
**Stakeholders:** Tourism Service Providers
* **Impact:** Required to comply with the 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism' and apply for approvals through the NIDHI+ portal.
* **Action Required:** Adopt the 'Code of Conduct' and apply for relevant approvals online.
**Stakeholders:** Ministry of Civil Aviation
* **Impact:** Partnering with the Ministry of Tourism to improve air connectivity to various tourist destinations.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism to identify and develop tourism routes under the RCS-Udan scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The primary ministry responsible for tourism-related policies and initiatives described in the document.
NIDHI+: National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry; online portal for processing approvals for accommodation units and Tourism Service Providers.
Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-Udan): Scheme to improve air connectivity to tourist destinations, implemented with the coordination of Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Nirbhaya fund: Fund used for Safe Tourism Destination for Women to improve safety and security of women tourists.
Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism: Guidelines adopted by the Ministry of Tourism and stakeholders to ensure tourism activities are undertaken with respect to basic rights like dignity, safety and freedom.
Ministry of Tourism
Tourism reforms undertaken by the Central
Government to strengthen on-ground safety
mechanism for tourists
Posted On: 12 FEB 2026 3:08PM 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 terms 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 & 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.
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 (14) sub-categories of e-visa and the scheme is now available to the nationals
of 175 countries and 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.
***
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2226972) Visitor Counter : 152
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