A Yatri Mitra vehicle patrols near Mysuru Palace
Because of VIP visits, royal functions or maintenance, prabhuswamy said tourists, particularly those from outside Karnataka, were often misled by touts claiming that attractions such as Mysuru Palace, Mysuru Zoo and Chamundi Hill were closed. Mysuru: Yatri Mitra, Karnataka’s first dedicated tourist mobile patrol initiative launched by the department of tourism in Mysuru, is helping visitors obtain verified information, navigate the city safely and avoid unauthorised touts. Launched by George on World Tourism Day at Mysuru Palace premises, the service is Karnataka’s first dedicated tourist mobile patrol initiative.
“Yatri Mitra was introduced to prevent such exploitation and ensure that tourists receive authentic information and assistance,” he said, adding that complaints had been received from visitors from Punjab and other states. The presence of the patrol has also helped reduce instances of tourists being misled,” Prabhuswamy said. Kannan, a tourist from Chennai, welcomed the initiative but said one vehicle was insufficient.
The initiative was conceptualised by Prabhuswamy VM, special officer to tourism minister KJ George, to address a long-standing problem faced by tourists visiting the Heritage City. Visitors were then diverted to selected private and commercial shops, allegedly in return for commissions on purchases. “Yatri Mitra personnel patrol important tourist locations, whenever visitors face difficulties, they reach the spot within a few minutes and extend assistance. He urged the department to deploy more Yatri Mitra vehicles and introduce similar services at major tourist destinations across Karnataka and other states.