SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir recorded four cases of crimes against foreign tourists during 2022-24, with one case charge-sheeted and none resulting in a completed trial or conviction, according to data placed by the Union Ministry of Tourism before the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The data, sourced from the National Crime Records Bureau’s Crime in India reports, shows that JK registered two cases each in 2022 and 2024, while no such case was recorded in 2023.
In 2022, two cases were registered against foreign tourists, with one charge-sheeted. In 2023, the Union Territory reported no such case. In 2024, two cases were registered and one was charge-sheeted. No trial was completed and no conviction was recorded in JK during the three-year period.
Across India, cases of crimes against foreign tourists increased from 93 in 2022 to 125 in 2023 and 156 in 2024. The national data recorded 42, 76 and 97 charge-sheets respectively during the three years.
The Ministry said tourist safety and security is essentially a State subject, while the Tourism Ministry has been working with States and Union Territories to strengthen dedicated tourist policing.
Jammu and Kashmir is among the 15 States and UTs that have deployed tourist police, along with Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh.
Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the government had not undertaken any specific assessment attributing changes in foreign tourist arrivals solely to incidents involving tourist safety.
He said sporadic incidents could temporarily influence travel decisions, but overall foreign tourist arrivals were determined by multiple factors.
The Ministry has also been urging States and UT administrations to avail themselves of the ‘Safe Tourism Destinations for Women’ initiative under the Nirbhaya Fund, which can finance projects aimed specifically at improving the safety and security of women tourists.
The national crime data shows that rape cases involving foreign tourists rose from 13 in 2022 to 15 in 2024, while cases of assault on women with intent to outrage their modesty stood at 14 in 2024 against 21 in 2023.
The government said proposals for strengthening tourist safety mechanisms were being pursued with States and UTs, including the deployment of dedicated tourist police and utilisation of available funding under the Nirbhaya Fund.
