New helpline for visitors to India

Travellers in India will be given a helping hand in the form of a new free tourism helpline.

Senior government officials confirmed that the Ministry of Tourism in India had given the go-ahead for the service, which will be toll-free.

It is hoped that the multi-lingual information and advice line will make travelling around the large country much easier, with many visitors struggling to understand Hindi.

"The toll-free helpline would be accessible from everywhere in India and should start functioning in the new calendar year," a statement from ministry said.

The helpline will be available in a number of other major languages too.

India is a growing and popular holiday destination, with six million people visiting every year. Many of the country's tourists travel independently, making the phone service even more valuable. The number for the free helpline has not yet been announced.