Lok Sabha Question No. 336 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Identification of Buddhist Circuits
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: HARIOM SINGH RATHORE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†336 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## IDENTIFICATION OF BUDDHIST CIRCUITS

†336. SHRI HARIOM SINGH RATHORE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has identified three buddhist circuits in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the schemes in operation in this regard;
- (b) the amount of foreign currency received from foreign tourists in Government exchequer during the last three years; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to provide information and create awareness regarding the three Buddhist circuits in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a): Buddhist  Circuit  has  been  identified  as  one  of  the  fifteen thematic circuits for development under Swadesh Darshan SchemeIntegrated Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits. All places associated  with  the  Buddhist  heritage  in  the  country  are  covered under the Buddhist Circuit. The details of projects sanctioned under Buddhist circuit theme are as under:

(Amt. in Rs. crore)

|   Sl. No. | Name of State   | Year of Sanction   | Project Name                                                                           |   Amt. Sanctioned |
|-----------|-----------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Madhya Pradesh  | 2016-17            | Development of Buddhist Circuit in Sanchi-Satna-Rewa- Mandsaur-Dhar in Madhya Pradesh. |             74.94 |
|         2 | Uttar Pradesh   | 2016-17            | Development of Buddhist Circuit -                                                      |             99.97 |

|       |                |         | Srawasti, Kushinagar, & Kapilvastu in Uttar Pradesh.                                                                                                                                |        |
|-------|----------------|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| 3.    | Bihar          | 2016-17 | Construction of Cultural Centre adjacent to Maya Sarovar on the western side at Bodhgaya, Bihar                                                                                     |  98.73 |
| 4.    | Gujarat        | 2017-18 | Development of Buddhist circuit: Junagadh- Gir- Somnath- Bharuch- Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana in Gujarat under Swadesh Darshan scheme                                         |  35.99 |
| 5.    | Andhra Pradesh | 2017-18 | Development of Buddhist Circuit: Shalihundam- Thotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati- Anupu in Andhra Pradesh under the theme of Buddhist Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme |  52.34 |
| Total | Total          | Total   | Total                                                                                                                                                                               | 361.97 |

## (b):  During  the  last  three  years  Foreign  Exchange  Earnings  (FEEs) through tourism in India is as follows:

|   Year |   FEE (Rs. in crore) |
|--------|----------------------|
|   2015 |               135193 |
|   2016 |               154146 |
|   2017 |               180379 |

(c): The  Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India,  undertakes several  promotional  activities  in  the  domestic  and  international markets for promotion of the varied tourism products and destinations  of  the  country  including  Buddhist  Heritage,  Sites  and Circuits.  The  Ministry  produce publicity material and  collaterals in English and foreign languages for domestic and international markets;  media  campaigns  in  the  print  and  electronic  media  are undertaken in the domestic and international markets; familiarisation  tours  for  trade,  media  and  opinion  makers  are undertaken  from  overseas  to  Buddhist  Sites  and  Circuits  in  the country  under  the  Hospitality  Scheme  of  the  Ministry.  To  create awareness about the Buddhist Sites/Heritage in the country, Ministry of Tourism organises International Buddhist Conclave every alternate year. The next International Buddhist Conclave is scheduled to be held in 2018.

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