States that have rolled out the scheme have been instructed to scale up the scheme’s reach to cover more areas frequented by tourists, while those who are yet to start were given a lowdown this month on the best practices followed by states like Rajasthan, which have successfully implemented the scheme.
In 2019, about 11 million tourists came to India, which dipped to a mere 1. 5 million in 2021; the outbreak playing a major role in the slump. Many are pestered, harassed and cheated during their travels and don’t know whom to approach immediately for remedy. A tourist police, located in all important tourist spots, can make them feel safer and better. When a happy tourist returns home, he or she serves as the most reliable publicist for a country. All states should emulate the Rajasthan model. They will benefit individually and India collectively.
Tourism ministry officials also said states and UTs which have not been on-boarded yet have been assured that the Centre will extend support to them in setting up the infrastructure needed to get the scheme off the ground.
“The MHA had agreed that a discussion regarding the tourist police scheme should be held with police chiefs of all states,” an official said. At present, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, MP, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim and UP have deployed tourist police.