Question : Air Connectivity to Tourist Places

(a) whether the Government proposes to provide better air connectivity at tourist places to increase the number of domestic and foreign tourists in the country;
(b) whether religious places of the country have also been covered thereunder;
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
(d) the amount of funds allocated by the Government during the last three years in this regard; and
(e) the number of domestic and foreign tourists who visited various tourist sites in the country during the last three years, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (d): As per the information received from Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)- UDAN(Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) version 3.0, 46 tourism routes have been awarded on request of Ministry of Tourism. No amount has been allocated by Ministry of Tourism since last three years for this purpose. Importance has been given for connectivity of Buddhist sector and important tourist places such as Varanasi, Bodhgaya and Kushinagar which have been included among the 46 tourism routes under RCS Udan 3.

(e): The details of number of domestic and foreign tourists who visited various tourist sites in the country during the last three years, state- wise is annexed.
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