Question : Eco-Tourism

(a) whether the Government is formulating any policy/guidelines for the promotion of eco-tourism and eco-tourism projects in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the locations developed as eco-tourism places across the country, State/UT-wise including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Hilly and Tribal areas of the country;
(b) the details of Central financial assistance allocated and the expenditure incurred on the promotion of eco-tourism during the last five years, State/UT-wise, year-wise and project-wise;
(c) whether the Government has received proposals from the State Governments for the development and promotion of eco-tourism;
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the status of the proposals, State/UT-wise; and
(e) the details of employment generated under eco-tourism-cum-nature programme during the last three years, State/UT-wise?

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

(a) to (e): Yes, Madam. The Ministry of Tourism has taken several initiatives to boost tourism including Eco-tourism in the country. However, promotion and development of tourism including Eco-tourism is the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for tourism infrastructure projects including Eco-tourism projects that are complete as per existing scheme guidelines and are sanctioned subject to availability of scheme/funds and utilization of funds released earlier. The amount sanctioned for eco-tourism projects to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations under Central Financial Assistance during the last five years is given in the Annexure.

The following initiatives are taken by the Ministry to boost Eco-tourism in the country:
(i) Evolved & adopted Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI) for three major segments of the tourism industry, namely accommodation, tour operators, and Beaches, Backwaters, Lakes & Rivers sectors, applicable for the entire country.
(ii) Guidelines for approval of Hotel Projects at the implementation stage and also for Classification/Re-classification of operational hotels under various categories mandate incorporation of various eco-friendly measures like installation of Sewage Treatment Plant, Rain water Harvesting, Waste Management System, Pollution Control and Introduction of non-Chlorofluorocarbon equipment for refrigeration and air conditioners, energy and water conservation measures.
(iii) Promoting Eco-Tourism, inter-alia through domestic and international campaigns and also by supporting seminars, conference and events focusing on development of Eco-Tourism in the country, from time to time.
(iv) Ministry has launched “Swadesh Darshan scheme” for development of theme based tourist circuits on priniciples of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner by synergizing efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance employment opportunities. One of the themes on which circuits are to be developed is Eco Tourism Circuit. Following Eco-tourism proposals are received in the Ministry:

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Sl. No. State Name of the Project
1 Telangana Integrated Development of Eco Tourism circuit in Mahaboobnagar District
2 Chhattisgarh Integrated Development of Eco Tourism circuit in Rajmergarh–Kabir Chabutra-Achanakmar Tiger Reserve- Kurdar-Sirpur-Kodar Dam-Gangrel Dam-Kanger Vally National Park
3 Kerala Integrated Development of Eco Tourism circuit in Gavi – Pathanamthitta
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