**Summary:**
The Ministry of Tourism is actively working with State Governments and Union Territory Administrations to enhance tourist safety and security, which is primarily a state subject. Key initiatives include advocating for the establishment of dedicated Tourism Police, with Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh having already deployed tourist police in various forms.
To further support tourists, the Ministry operates a 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline, accessible via the toll-free number 1800111363 or short code 1363. This helpline offers services in 12 languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, and English), providing travel information and assistance to tourists in distress.
The Ministry also encourages State Governments and Union Territories to utilize the Nirbhaya Fund, administered by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, for projects aimed at improving the safety and security of women tourists. As an example, approximately Rs. 16.79 crore was sanctioned to Madhya Pradesh Tourism under the Safe Tourism Destination for Women Scheme.
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat provided this information in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. Contact: Sunil Kumar Tiwari, tourism4pibatgmaildotcom.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The Union Government ministry responsible for the formulation of policies and programmes for the development and promotion of tourism in India.
State Governments: The governments of the individual states within India, responsible for law and order including tourist safety.
Union Territory Administrations: The administrations of the Union Territories in India.
Tourism Police: A dedicated police force for ensuring the safety and security of tourists.
MultiLingual Tourist Helpline: A 24x7 helpline operating on the toll-free number 1800111363 and short code 1363, providing assistance to tourists in multiple languages.
Nirbhaya Fund: A non-lapsable corpus fund administered by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, dedicated to projects improving the safety and security of women.
Safe Tourism Destinations for Women: A scheme under the Nirbhaya Fund aimed at improving the safety and security of women tourists.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Union Minister for Tourism and Culture.
Ministry of Tourism
Tourist Safety in High-Risk Destinations
Posted On: 21 AUG 2025 4:20PM by PIB Delhi
Safety and Security of tourists is essentially a State Government subject. However, the Ministry of Tourism
has been continuously taking up the matter with all the State Governments/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 Administrations of 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, in one
form or the other.
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 term of information relating to Travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance
to tourists in distress, while travelling within India.
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.
Ministry of Tourism sanctioned a total of Rs.16.79 crore (approx.) to Madhya Pradesh Tourism under the
“Safe Tourism Destination for Women” Scheme.
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: 2159108)