Par panel seeks deployment of tourist police

Expressing concern over the safety of tourists particularly those from abroad, a parliamentary committee has sought deployment of tourist police and formation of security organisations for their protection.
The Committee on Estimates headed by Goa Congress MP Francisco Sardinha also expressed dismay over the cleanliness and quality of tourist amenities, sewerage and drainage, waste management and sanitation arrangements in and around a number of monuments and other tourist sites.
The 31-member committee in its latest report suggested adequate deployment of tourist police at all sites for their protection.
It also asked the Tourism Ministry to take up with state governments the formation of tourist security organisations.

The committee emphasised on the need to redrees the major constraints in tourism development in the country like safety of tourists, shortage of skilled manpower, inadequacy of accommodation and lack of cleanliness at tourist sites.
The panel also suggested that proactive steps should be taken by the Ministry to involve all corporate bodies to maintain cleanliness at tourist sites as part of their corporate social responsibility.
While taking note of the fact that only in monuments which receive a large number of visitors, basic amenities have been upgraded during the last five years, it said that basic amenities and signages explaining the history of the monuments should be installed in all protected monuments of national importance irrespective of the number of visitors.

Supporting the Tourism Ministry's suggestion for a uniform tax on hotel tariff in all states, the committee observed that taxes on hotel tariff in the country are higher as compared to other South-East Asian countries.