Police personnel conduct an investigation after two women, including a foreign national, were allegedly raped in Hampi on March 6, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
After the recent rape of two women and murder of a tourist at one of Karnataka’s most famous tourist destinations, Hampi, the Home Department has issued guidelines to be followed by homestay and resort owners for the safety of tourists, including making it mandatory to get police or Forest Department permission before taking tourists to deserted spots or forest areas.
On March 6, a homestay owner had taken two domestic and two international tourists to a deserted area near Anegundi for stargazing. Three other men arrived at the spot and allegedly raped an Israeli tourist and the homestay owner while the three men were pushed into the Tungabhadra left bank canal. One of the tourists drowned.
As per the guidelines, all homestay and resort-owners should take appropriate measures to keep the tourists safe, and to avoid such incidents in the future.
Permission of jurisdictional police
“If homestay or resort owners want to take their domestic or international guests to the outskirts or deserted places, they should inform the jurisdictional police and obtain their permission. If they take them to deserted places or forest areas without permission, the homestay or resort owners will be responsible for any mishap that occurs due to wild animals or anti-social elements. They will be subjected to legal action and punishment,” it says.
The circular orders the police to ensure implementation of these guidelines in all homestays and resorts in their jurisdiction. It also directs them to examine the sightseeing packages offered by tour operators to make sure that the destinations are not dangerous.
The Tourism Department is circulating the guidelines in all the districts. “We already have existing guidelines for homestays and resorts. Now, we have included these points too. We are sending a copy to the Deputy Commissioners (DC) in all districts,” said Salma K. Fahim, Secretary, Tourism Department.
Homestay owners express reservations
The homestay owners expressed their support for the new guidelines but said it was not right to hold them responsible for everywhere the tourists go.
“We already follow the regulations and submit C-Forms (to register the arrival of foreign tourists) to the police. We should follow the guidelines and abide by the laws for our own safety as well as that of the tourists. However, we cannot take responsibility when tourists go in local vehicles or on their own. During such times, if they say the homestay owner suggested the place, then we will be falsely blamed. This is not very encouraging for tourism. These guidelines might be misused even by officials in case something goes wrong,” said N.R. Thejaswi, a homestay owner and president of Chikkamagaluru Homestay Association.
Published – March 11, 2025 05:41 pm IST
