Question : RURAL TOURISM

(a) the details of the schemes for promoting rural tourism in the country;

(b) the number of proposals received and sanctioned by the Union Government for grant of financial assistance to promote rural tourism in the country during the last three years and the current year, State- wise, year-wise;

(c) the number of tourist spots identified to be developed as tourism spots; and

(d) the other steps being taken by the Government to provide connectivity to the rural areas for promoting rural tourism?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM (SHRI SULTAN AHMED)

(a) to (c): Identification and development of rural tourism sites is primarily undertaken by State Governments/UT Administrations. However, under its Rural Tourism Scheme, Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations for development of these sites. An amount of upto Rs. 50.00 lakh for infrastructure development and upto Rs. 20.00 lakh for capacity building including skill upgradation is given based on project proposals received and subject to adherence to scheme guidelines, availability of funds and inter-se priority. The details of rural tourism projects sanctioned by Ministry of Tourism during the last three years and the current year, State-wise and year-wise, are given in Annexure.

(d): Under the Rural Tourism Scheme, Ministry of Tourism also provides funds for improvement of roads within the Panchayat limits to improve connectivity to the rural tourism sites.