UT Admn to launch Tourism Police in city

Chandigarh, Sep 23 (UNI) For the security of tourists, the Chandigarh Administration will launch Tourism Police at Sukhna Lake on World Tourism Day on September 27.

The training programme for the tourism police squad, sponsored by the Department of Tourism of Chandigarh Administration, was conducted at Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management recently.

A total of 100 police personnel were trained during the programme and they will be assigned various sites of tourist interest in Chandigarh.

The major objective of the Administration behind the launching of the Tourism Police is to promote safe tourism in the 'City Beautiful'.

Tourism Director Vivek Atray said there was a need for such a specialised force as the city was a hub of three states (Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh) and was fast becoming a preferred tourist destination.

Tourism police personnel will have special arm bands and will be deputed at places of tourist interest in the city, added Mr Atray.

During the training programme, the police personnel were taught basics of foreign languages including English, French and Italian to enable them to interact with foreign tourists.

Subjects like personal grooming and hygiene cleanliness, motivation, leadership, stress management, tourism basics, Chandigarh tourism action plan and social skills were also covered during this programme.

The Tourism police will help tourists in getting transport and lodging at appropriate rate and without much hassles at Railway Station, Airports Bus Terminals, important tourist places, malls and provide safety and security against cheats and bag lifters at these places.

They would further help contain crime like pick pocketing, eve-teasing, molestation, drugging etc. They would also help tourists in procuring tickets for museums, resorts, transports, movies and will ensure that no peddler, jeweller, shopkeeper, tout, cheat and beggar harass them.

The tourism police would also guide tourists on local conditions of law and order, security and hazards, places of medical help and on matters relating to passport, visas, residential permits, exchange of currency and on immigration issues.

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