Strengthening Tourist Safety: New Guidelines for Mangaluru Homestays
Mangaluru City police have enhanced safety measures for homestays near beaches within the city. In response to the alleged assault on an Israeli tourist near Hampi, the home department recently issued new directives for homestay and resort owners to ensure tourist safety. These include mandatory police or forest department approval before guiding tourists to remote or forested areas.
A meeting was convened with homestay owners at the city police commissioner’s office, attended by Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP, City Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal, and tourism department officials. Agrawal emphasized that homestay owners must display beach safety guidelines, including information on water depths, safe zones, tide schedules, and restrictions during monsoon seasons. Additionally, contact information for the nearest police station must be posted.
Homestays and resorts must comply with fire safety regulations and ensure background checks for all staff. CCTV cameras should be installed at strategic locations, with footage retained for at least 30 days. If a property has a swimming pool, extra safety measures must be enforced.
About 100 homestay owners participated in the meeting. Of the 139 homestays in Dakshina Kannada, 99 fall under the jurisdiction of the city police. Owners are required to adhere to a 24-point checklist, which includes collecting guest ID details, submitting Form C for foreign nationals, and ensuring compliance with liquor and party regulations.
In addition, homestays must maintain hygiene, provide clean facilities, and establish a complaint management system. Owners also requested a streamlined clearance process, and the Deputy Commissioner promised improvements.
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