Govt proposes setting up ‘tourist police’ units

Setting up units of “Tourist Police” and making provisions for the issuance of “city passes” for travellers in major centres, including Delhi, are among plans that minister of state for tourism, Mahesh Sharma, is keen on implementing within a 90-day time frame.

Malaysia is the only country that has dedicated units functioning as “tourist police”, while such functions in some countries including Thailand are being undertaken by the civil defence and marshals.

The concept of “city passes” — common in several European capitals including Paris and London — envisage free travel in buses and metros to pass holders, besides concessional tickets for visit to historical sites or museums.

Framing a central law on tourist-related crimes and setting up an agency to regulate activities of different departments, agencies or ministries involved in the sector are among the medium and long ter m measures that the minister is deliberating on.

“The idea of putting up a “wall of shame” to name and shame people held guilty for dirtying the city has also been put up”, sources said.

“Dr Shar ma will shortly be meeting home minister Rajnath Singh for preliminary discussions on these and related issues,” ministry sources said.

Activating the “beggars cells” of police units in Delhi and other metropolitan centres and engaging corporates in cleanliness drives are among concepts that will be implemented at different centres including Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Bengaluru and Goa, officials said.

A National Tourism Advisory Council — for policy formulation on tourism-related issues including women’s safety — is also being proposed to be set up.