With the onset of the tourist season, the focus of tourist assistance force (TAF) will be on those who run tout rackets. However, despite rounding up 30 touts from tourists spots in the city last month under the newly introduced Tourism Trade (Facilitation and Regulation) Bill, TAF's touted success is suspect. It can never succeed without a crackdown on the white-collared criminals behind these rackets as per a TOI report.

The much-hyped campaign against touts is mere eyewash, according to observers, as cops have failed to curb their activities. The police are now relying on a new strategy to reduce the tout menace. Officials say there are a handful of men involved in handicrafts and travel business who are running these rackets.

"Many touts who were rounded up recently told us they are employed and earn a commission by defrauding tourists. These touts are just a small part of the problem. Even if they are put behind bars, news ones will be recruited by their employers, some of whom are known handicraft businessmen and tourists operators," said TAF's deputy director Rajeev Dutta.

He added t the TAF is preparing a database of known touts and on the basis of the statements to police by them, action will be taken. "These touts get 40-50% on each item they help a handicraft showroom to sell. The showroom owner will obviously ensure his profit even after paying the commission, so what happens is a tourist has to shell out Rs 500 for an item worth Rs 100," said Dutta. "Giving commission to the touts makes the showroom owners and others touts themselves," said the officer.

He added that there are three kinds of touts operating in the city. The first kind works on a daily basis to earn money from providing tourists sightseeing tours despite the fact that they don't have a guild's licence. The second type is those who work for big tour and travel companies. The third type is those who are employed by handicraft showrooms.

"Most of them have criminal background which can pose a threat to the safety of tourists, especially those visiting the city from foreign countries. They bring a bad name to the tourism industry," said the officer.

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