As per the latest development, Assam state’s tourism department has devised a plan to implement a ‘tourist police’ initiative, in a move to ensure the safety and security of visitors in Assam.
If reports are to go by, this decision comes in response to a significant rise in tourist numbers in the state post-Covid last year. The new Assam Tourism (Development and Registration) Bill, 2024, have been recently passed by the state assembly, which included the ‘tourist police’ scheme. It included details of establishing units, tourist police stations, and necessary infrastructure to guarantee the well-being of visitors.
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A senior official from the tourism department stated that this ‘tourist police’ scheme is now part of the new Assam Tourism Bill, thereby providing a comprehensive framework for the tourism sector.
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Reports add that every accommodation facility will be required to register with the tourism department. Revealing more about this initiative, the official further highlighted that the scheme is in its initial stages, but will be implemented soon, and will involve inspections of tourist places to create a safe and secure environment.
Several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, and Uttar Pradesh, have already introduced tourist police. The said official added that Assam needs to follow suit and join the majority of states in implementing this crucial safety measure.
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Reports add that the ‘tourist police’ scheme was introduced nationwide in 2022 when the Union Ministry of Tourism directed all states and Union territories to establish dedicated tourist police units. This collaborative effort involved the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) in developing a framework, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), training programs for personnel, and uniform recommendations for tourist police officers.
In 2023, Assam witnessed a surge in tourist footfall, and reported 98.31 lakh visitors, comprising 98.12 lakh domestic and 18,946 foreign tourists. This marked a substantial increase from the 2022 figures, where the state recorded a total of 17.03 lakh tourists, consisting of 17.02 lakh domestic and 1,231 foreign visitors—the highest footfall in the past decade. Notably, Kaziranga National Park attracted 9,183 foreign tourists and 3,02,763 domestic tourists in the previous year.
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