As a part of efforts to strengthen the tourism police force in the state, all tourist destinations will soon have new Destination Committees, with representatives from the home department, tourism department, local governing bodies, tourism industry and these committees would meet on a regular basis and chart out plans to be implemented in the tourism sector of the respective destinations.
The government will recruit more women to the force, Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Cooperation and Devaswoms, said The Tourism Department and the Home Department have held joint consultations and arrived at plans to effectively ensure safety and security of tourists at various destinations in the state.
The tourism police personnel will be trained to speak in different languages will also be imparted training in interacting with tourists. A mobile app that would help people to easily get in contact with the police personnel will also be developed. Tourists who arrive at airports, railway stations, and bus stations would be able to access police help with the aid of a revamped tourism brochure that will incorporate all necessary information.
Trained Tourism wardens would be appointed to aid the police system .Further, all vendors and guides at tourist destinations would be given identity cards and uniforms, so that people visiting these destinations would know that they are government-recognized vendors and guides. The selection of vendors and guides would be done only after proper police verification, the Minister revealed.
Besides, all tourism destinations would have mandatory closed circuit television cameras with a view on safety. Apart from the CCTV cameras installed by the tourism department, private entrepreneurs, hotels and such institutions will be directed to install cameras. The department will also install signage boards across all destinations. Also, the shortcomings that are currently seen in lighting systems would be addressed, the Minister said.
The police would prepare a list of history sheeters, and such people with criminal inclinations would be fully kept away from tourist destinations, and strict action would be enforced on all those who indulge in criminal activities and use of narcotic substances, the Minister said.
All decisions arrived at ensuring safety of travelers would be implemented in a very short time, The meeting had the participation of State Police Chief Mr. Loknath Behera IPS; Range IG Mr. Manoj Abraham IPS;Mr.Dinendra Kashyap IPS,Tourism Secretary Mrs. Rani George IAS; Kerala Tourism Director Mr. P Bala Kiran IAS; Kerala Tourism Additional Director (General) Mr.Jafar Malik IAS;CMD KTIL Mr.Mohanlaland others senior police and tourism department officials.
