Chandigarh: The role of the police is not only to ensure law and order, but to take special measures for the safety and security of the tourists, both domestic and international, who are now visiting the country in a very large number. This was stated by the SSP Chandigrah, Mr S.S, Srivastva, while addressing an interface on the role of police in tourism promotion, organized by the ITFT Chandigarh today as part of its 15th anniversary celebrations.
Mr Srivastava said that the police personnel, who were many a time the first contact persons with the visitors, could be goodwill ambassadors for the city and the country so that the visitors could take back happy memories of their visit with them. This would also go a long way in enhancing the number of the visitors with increased business opportunities and revenues for the local residents.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Tourism and Public Relations Chandigarh, Mr Vivek Atray highlighted the symbiotic relationship between tourism and the police, who could create a favourable impression of the city and its people by being helpful to the visitors. He outlined many schemes and plans of the tourism department for providing additional facilities to the visitors, adding that more than 7 lakh domestic visitors which did not include those transiting through the city and 40, 000 international tourists visited Chandigarh.
Mr Srivastava also released a concept paper prepared by the ITFT Group Chandigarh. It has made a number of suggestions such as, tourism department to work hand in hand with the police to promote tourism, to set up a special wing of Tourist Police by the Chandigarh Administration, with distinctive uniform and insignia, and to set up information kiosks by the police department at important places of tourist interest.
Tourist police to have recognizable vehicles with first aid facilities, holding of workshops to sensitize the police towards requirements of tourists regularly., making them responsible towards the needs of tourists, inhibitions in mind of people regarding attitude of police to be dealt with and spread friendly & helpful attitude of police, rewarding better performing police personnel and their family visits to famous destinations, certificates of appreciation, badges to display, salary hike , full knowledge of the place from tourism point of view – hotels, spots, airport, railway station and the tourist police officials to have knowledge of at least one foreign language, preferably English, if possible, were some other suggestions made in the concept paper. It was also suggested that a meeting of the police and tourism officials could be held after every months to review the performance of various officials in regard to facilitating the visitors.
Besides other participants, around 20 probationary ASIs were specially deputed to attend the programme with a view to familiarize them with the needs of the visitors right from the beginning of their career.
Earlier, ITFT Group executive director, Dr Gulshan Sharma, made a multi-media presentation on the subject. He also offered 10 scholarships to the wards of police personnel for one months’ training in personality development and airlines management.