Question : Development of Tourism

(a) whether the Government proposes to formulate new schemes to boost tourism;
(b) if so, the details of existing tourism schemes in operation in various States of the country, State/UT-wise including Haryana, Rajasthan and Karnataka;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to preserve culture, heritage and environment at tourist destinations to attract more tourists and to boost direct and indirect investment in tourism sector;
(d) whether the Government proposes to develop major tourist places in Jammu & Kashmir and Shekhawati region of Rajasthan in view of the potential of these places and if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
(e) the details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred in various States for development and promotion of tourism during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a): Setting up of Special Tourism Zones in partnership with States has been announced in the Budget Speech of 2017-18.

(b): Swadesh Darshan and National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) are the existing schemes in operation for developing tourism infrastructure and facilities in the country, including Haryana, Rajasthan and Karnataka.

Under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, thirteen theme based circuits have been identified for development which include North-East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit and Heritage Circuit.

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

(c): The Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD Schemes focus on the preservation of culture, heritage and environment to attract more tourists. Heritage and Eco Tourism have been identified as theme circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. The Ministry of Tourism organized ‘Incredible India Tourism Investor Summit’ in September, 2016 with the objective of showcasing the investment opportunities in the tourism sector in India and to boost investment.

(d) and (e): Details of projects sanctioned and amount released under Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD Schemes including those in Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan during the last three years and the current year is at Annexure.

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