Chandigarh: With the influx of foreign
tourists to the city on the rise and the Commonwealth Games
drawing near, the administration would soon re-launch tourism
police to look after the security needs of visitors.
Tourism police, a specialized force to look after
the security needs of tourists, was launched two years back
after a young German girl was sexually assaulted in the city
but soon hit technical roadblocks.
"Procedural hitches and functional handicaps that stalked
the initiative two years ago, have been taken care of and
measures outlined to make the force play the purposeful role
with which it was conceived and help promote safe tourism in
Chandigarh," an official said today.
"Besides, the UT Administration is expecting greater
influx of tourists during the Commonwealth Games to be held
in New Delhi in October," he said.
Chandigarh has, of late, been witnessing greater influx of
foreign tourists.
While in 2007, 26,567 foreign tourists visited the city,
their number increased to 34,762 in 2008; and to 37,967 in
2009. Between January-April this year, 15,260 foreign tourists
visited the city.
Chandigarh's Inspector General of Police (Administration)
Pradeep Shrivastava said here today that selected personnel
from the Union Territory's Police Department would be given
special training at Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management,
Sector 42, Chandigarh.
"The training module will cover subjects such as personal
grooming hygiene, motivation, leadership, stress management,
tourism basics, city’s tourism action plan; and social
mannerism. They will be groomed in friendly techniques besides
basics of English and some other foreign languages to assist
and interact with the tourists, especially the foreigners,
visiting the city easily," he said.
Besides the normal uniform of the Chandigarh Police,
tourism police personnel would wear special jackets to
facilitate identification from a distance.
The force will guide the tourists on law and order,
security measures, places of medical help, matters relating
to passport, visas, exchange of currency and immigration
issues.
"They will also help them in getting easy transport and
lodging at appropriate rates. It will also assist them in case
of any emergency and provide security against unscrupulous
elements," Shrivastava said.
He also informed that before the start of the games,
special seminars will be held at taxi/scooter rickshaw stands
to educate the drivers on friendly behaviour with tourists.
PTI
First Published: Monday, June 21, 2010, 19:26
