(a) whether the Government has any proposal to develop and promote `Spiritual Tourism` at holy places in the country under various schemes inc- luding Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive scheme;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the funds/special package allocated for the same;
(c) whether the Government has proposed to create a new Hindu/Sikh Pilgrimage Circuit;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the action taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) to (e): In pursuance of the budget announcement of 2014-15, the Ministry of Tourism has launched two new plan schemes in the current financial year;
(i) National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) with a initial provision of Rs.100.00 crore, to beautify and improve the amenities and infrastructure at pilgrimage centres of all faiths. Initially, Twelve Cities namely Amri- tsar, Ajmer,Amaravati, Dwaraka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Kedarnath,Kamakhya, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi and Vellankani have been identified for development; and
(ii) SWADESH DARSHAN for integrated development of tourist circuits around specific themes with a initial provision of Rs.500.00 crore. Under this scheme five circuits has been indentified: Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit and North-East Circuit.