In what is said to be a first-of-its-kind initiative in the State, the Department of Tourism launched ‘Yatri Mitra’, a dedicated mobile tourist patrol vehicle, to protect visitors from touts, provide verified information and offer immediate assistance at major tourist destinations in Mysuru.
The initiative, launched on World Tourism Day at the Mysuru Palace premises on Sunday, will see the patrol vehicle continuously move between key tourist spots, including the palace, Chamundi Hill, Mysuru Zoo, railway station and bus stand. The service is aimed at preventing tourists from being misled by touts who allegedly provide false information about tourist attractions and services.
The patrol vehicle will have two trained ‘Tourist Mithras’, who will act as first responders during medical, security and other emergencies. They will also provide tourists with authentic information about attractions, route guidance and assistance whenever required.
The initiative has been conceptualised by Prabhuswamy V.M., former Assistant Director of the Department of Tourism, Mysuru, and Special Officer to the Minister for Energy and Tourism.
As part of a sponsored collaboration, GRS Fantasy Park/Baliga Investments Private Limited has provided a patrol vehicle, a dedicated driver and fuel expenses for the entire trial period.
The service will operate on a trial basis from September 27 to October 31, covering the busy Dasara tourism season. Based on tourist feedback and operational experience during the trial, the Tourism Department plans to continue the service permanently and extend the model to other major tourist destinations in Mysuru. The initiative carries the tagline “Safe Journey, Memorable Experience.”
