Multilingual helpline for tourists

Government will be setting up a multilingual helpline by March next year to provide tourism related information and local assistance to foreigners visiting the country.
In order to provide information services to incoming tourists, action has been initiated to set up a telephonic contact centre through competent, qualified and experienced partners, Tourism Minister Shripad Naik said told the Lok Sabha today.
He said the Ministry is making all efforts to ensure that the infoline commences by March 31, 2015.
Minister said the service will primarily serve those who are calling from abroad and know very little about travel within India, and those who have reached India but do not understand Indian systems (including private sector systems) and Indian languages often not even English.

The languages to be handled by the contact centres include 10 international languages besides English and Hindi. The languages are Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portugese, Russian and Spanish.
Naik said currently information on all important domestic tourist spots are available on the website of the Ministry.