Registration, uniforms to be made mandatory for tourist guides in Munnar

As part of introducing transparency and responsibility in the tourism sector, police registration and uniforms will be made mandatory for tourist guides in Munnar.

Aimed at controlling the spurt of unauthorised tourist guides and complaints of tourists especially from the foreigners, various reforms will be made with regard to the services of tourist taxis including the introduction of prepaid taxi system.

The decision was taken at a meeting convened by senior police officials and attended by representatives of political parties and trade unions in addition to the stakeholders of the tourism sector in Munnar.

There were complaints from tourists that those who introduce themselves as tourist guides lack basic information and connive with the agents for fleecing the tourists.

As part of the new scheme, those who are working as tourist guides and those who are interested to work in the field should apply for registration from the police before March 31, The police will provide the registration number before April 15 after conducting a preliminary inquiry about the applicant.

And those who are selected should work only with the identity card and uniform supplied by the police. The tourist guides will have the uniform of black pant and blue shirt. Any misbehaviour or genuine complaint against them will result in the cancellation of the registration. Moreover, the tourist guides will be allowed to send tourists to those staying facilities or hotels recommended as recognised.

Those representatives of staying facilities selected for canvassing tourists during night time will be given uniforms and their areas have been limited to the junctions like Periyavara, Post office, KDHP regional office and the taxi stand.

The meeting also decided to introduce pre-paid taxi system in the wake of the complaints regarding fleecing of tourists. Before the introduction of the pre-paid system, it was also decided to provide awareness classes to the taxi drivers, on March 31.

The meeting held at the Kanan Devan Hills Club was addressed by Deputy SP P.V. Chacko.