Rajasthan Tourism Minister Usha Punia has said that the state government had taken note of the complaint of a Japanese tourist who was alleged rape by a 22-year-old on April 2, in the hotel where she had checked in during her stay in Pushkar in Rajasthan.

Talking to rediff.com on phone from her residence in Jaipur, Punia promised swift action against the culprit who has been arrested by the Pushkar police, which is investigating the case.

"The matter was reported late by the tourist concerned. Though the incident took place in the first week of April, she went to Agra first and then had second thoughts about the incident and finally decided to report the matter. Notwithstanding the delay, prompt action has been taken because such incidents bring bad name to the state which has seen major tourist increase in last two years," she said.

According to Punia, tourist inflow increased by 54 per cent in 2004-2005 in comparison to the previous year. "This year, we have had a 17 per cent increase in both domestic as well as foreign tourist traffic," she claimed.

She asked tourists visiting India to visit information centres set up by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. "We have centres in all major cities that can guide tourists about the places they should stay or the places they should avoid. We have a tourist assistance force, comprising of 180 personnel who are deployed in all major districts. The tourists can also take their help," she said.