Question : Ranking in Tourism Competitiveness Index

(a) whether India’s ranking in Travel & Tourism competitiveness Index 2013 of the World Economic Forum has improved tremendously during the last five years;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) the measures taken by the Government to improve India’s tourism competitiveness, particularly regarding infrastructure and restrictive visa policy;
(d) the success achieved by the Government in this regard; and
(e) the other steps taken by the Government to promote tourism sector in the country especially in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)


(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. India’s Travel & Tourism competitiveness Index ranking since 2013 has improved. The details are as follows:

<pre>
Year 2013 2015 2017 2019
Rank 65 52 40 34
</pre>
Improvement in India’s ranking in Travel & Tourism competitiveness Index is an encouragement for tourism sector in the country.

(c): Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has taken several steps for creation of tourism infrastructure in the country so as to attract more tourists, which inter-alia include:
i. Launch of two flagship schemes: Swadesh Darshan - Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits and PRASHAD- Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive. The projects under these schemes are identified for development in consultation with the State Governments/UT Administrations and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier.
ii. Pursuant to the Budget Announcements of 2018-19, this Ministry has identified 17 sites in 12 clusters in the country for development as Iconic Tourist Sites.
iii. The ‘Adopt A Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’, a collaborative effort by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), State/UTs Governments, envisages developing heritage sites and making them tourist friendly, to enhance tourism potential and cultural importance in a planned and phased manner.
iv. Ministry provides Assistance to Central Agencies for the development of tourism related infrastructure in the country.

Further, Ministry of Tourism regularly coordinates with Ministry of Home Affairs and as a result Ministry of Home Affairs has relaxed the Protected Area Permit(PAP)/Restricted Area Permit(RAP) for a period of 5 Years i.e. till 31.12.2022 in the states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland and for 29 Islands of Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

(d): As a result of various measures taken by the stakeholders, the tourist visits in the country have increased in the recent years, details of which are given below:
<pre>
2016 2017 2018 (Revised)
Domestic Tourist Visits(Million) 1615.4 1657.6 1854.9
Foreign Tourist Visits(Million) 24.7 26.9 28.9
</pre>
(e): Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination and as part of its on-going activities to promote various tourism destinations and products in the different States and Union Territories of the country including the State of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura. In addition to advertisement, Promotions are also undertaken through the website and Social Media accounts of the Ministry. In addition, the India Tourism Offices in India and overseas undertake various promotional activities with the objective of showcasing the tourism potential of the different States/UTs.

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