Question : Promotion of Tourism

(a) whether the Government has formulated any policy for development of infrastructural facilities and promotion of the tourism sector in the country including Gujarat in a sustainable manner;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the schemes being implemented by the Government for the purpose during the last three years and the current year;
(c) whether the Government has identified some tourist/religious places in the country including Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh which are in bad condition and lack infrastructural facilities;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government for development of infrastructural facilities in such places along with the funds being provided/provided for the purpose during the current year, project-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SHRI K. J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*186 ANSWERED ON 01.01.2018 REGARDING PROMOTION OF TOURISM.

(a) to (e): The Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan and the National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Schemes for development of tourism related infrastructure facilities in the country, including Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, theme based circuits are being developed spanning the entire country, for integrated development of tourism infrastructure. The fifteen themes identified for development under this Scheme are the North-East Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Tirthankar Circuit and Sufi Circuit.

Under the PRASHAD Scheme, twenty five religious sites have been identified for development which include Amaravati, Srisailam and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Kamakhya (Assam), Patna and Gaya (Bihar), Dwarka and Somnath (Gujarat), Hazratbal and Katra (Jammu & Kashmir), Deogarh (Jharkhand), Guruvayoor (Kerala), Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh), Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra) Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Kanchipuram and Vellankani (Tamil Nadu), Varanasi, Ayodhya and Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Badrinath and Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) and Belur (West Bengal).

The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance under both the schemes to enhance the attractiveness of the tourist destinations/sites in a sustainable manner by developing world-class infrastructure to provide tourists with a complete tourism experience. The details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD Schemes during the last three years and the current year is at Annexure.

The Ministry of Tourism also promotes India as a holistic destination in the domestic and international markets. The promotional activities include media & outdoor campaigns; participation in travel fairs & exhibitions; organising road shows & seminars; production of publicity material & collaterals; inviting media personalities; tour operators and opinion makers to visit the country under the hospitality programme of the Ministry etc.

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