Question : CULINARY TOURISM

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to develop the market for culinary tourism of India;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has received any recommendation to popularize Indian cuisine across the world;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the initiatives taken by the Government to address the concerns relating to preservation of heritage Indian cuisine and research and training in culinary;

(e) whether various State Governments including the Government of Madhya Pradesh have submitted any proposal to the Government for getting fina- ncial assistance to prepare hospitality education programme; and

(f) if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated by the Government in this regard?

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

(a) to (d): The Ministry of Tourism is in the process of setting up of Indian Culinary Insti- tutes at Tirupati and at Noida with the following main objectives:

i) For research, documentation and propagation of Indian Cuisine.

ii) To develop Cuisine Tourism of India.

iii) To provide trained manpower support (specialized

faculty) to the existing Institutes of Hotel Management and Hotel Industry.

iv) To provide quality education in the field of Culinary arts.

To propagate Indian cuisine, the Ministry of Tourism participates in International Food Festivals to promote the rich, traditional and authentic Indian cuisine as tourism products globally.

(e) to (f): The Ministry of Tourism has no scheme to extend financial assistance to the State Government for the preparation of hospitality education programme.