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Plan to set up tourist police stations in State

By Sanjoy Ray

GUWAHATI, Aug 13 - Keeping in mind the safety of both domestic and international tourists, the State Government is planning to set up tourist police stations at important tourist destinations.

A special team of police unit will be attached with these tourist police stations, which also have an international desk for tourists coming from across the globe to Assam.

Further, the Home Department will very soon be persuaded by the Tourism Department to facilitate tourist police patrolling, official sources told The Assam Tribune.

�Safety and security is a prerequisite for the promotion of any industry, more so when its ramifications are transnational. In our new (draft) tourism policy, we have laid special stress on the security aspects,� opined a senior official of the Tourism Department.

He said that in its bid to promote the brand �Awesome Assam� globally, the State will have close collaboration with countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, China and other Southeast Asian countries, harping on the similarities the people of Assam have with their counterparts in those countries.

�Building brand Assam without plugging the security loopholes will not be possible and that is why we are leaving no stone unturned to have a foolproof security mechanism in place,� said the official.

Sources divulged that a 24x7 centralised tourist helpline number will also be activated for tourist information, safety and security. �The number will be displayed prominently in all tourist spots,� sources said.

He informed that all tourist places, taxi stands, restaurants, bus and railway stations, frequented by tourists, shall be asked to install CCTV cameras with the help of local police for round-the-clock surveillance.

Sources also went on to state that a pool of tourist wardens will be appointed to

ensure safety and security of both the domestic and international tourists and the cell phone numbers of the warden concerned will be displayed along with the tourist helpline number in their respective jurisdiction.

To cater to the needs of techno-savvy travellers, the concept of an interactive website will be introduced as well. �The travellers will have all information on their smart phones,� the official pointed out.

Quoting the draft tourism policy, sources informed that a single window clearance system to filmmakers, television serial producers shall be ensured through the Tourism website.

�The State will also encourage the Mumbai film industry and other regional film industries for shooting in Assam. There will also be provision to provide special incentives in the form of subsidies to the filmmakers,� the sources added.

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