Lok Sabha Question No. 264 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Promotion of Rural Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL, DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL, JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL, CHANDU LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.264 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## PROMOTION OF RURAL TOURISM

264.  SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL:

SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL: SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL: SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  scheme  for  the promotion  of  rural  tourism  in  the  country  and  has  received  any proposals from various State Governments in this regard and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the  details  of  the  schemes  being  implemented/proposed  to  be implemented  for  the  promotion  of  rural  tourism  and  action  plan envisaged to increase the tourism potential in rural/backward/tribal areas  of  the  country  along  with  the  rural  tourism  projects  being implemented  in  the  country,  State/UT-wise  including  Bihar  and Rajasthan;
- (c) the  funds  sanctioned,  released  and  utilised  in  this  regard  during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise, year-wise and project-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has identified remote villages and small and  medium  towns  as  spots  of  tourist  attraction  and  if  so,  the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  Federation  of  Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has conducted a study with regard to the potential of rural tourism in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): The  Ministry  of  Tourism,  as  part  of    its  on-going  activities, annually releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns in    the  international  and  domestic  markets,  under  the  Incredible  India brand-line,  to  promote  various  tourism  destinations    and    products    of the country, including those in rural/ backward/tribal areas. Promotions are also undertaken through the Social Media accounts and website of

the Ministry. The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  identified  Rural  Circuit  and  Tribal Circuit as part of the 15 Thematic Circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for Integrated Development of Theme Based Tourist Circuits. The projects under the Scheme are identified for development in consultation with the State  Governments/UTs  and  are  sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence  to Scheme  guidelines  and  utilization of funds released. The list of the projects sanctioned under the Rural and Tribal Circuit themes of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme are given in Annexure. (e): As per information received from the Federation of Indian Chamber of  Commerce and Industry (FICCI), they have not conducted any study with regard to the potential of rural tourism in the country.

*******

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.264 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018 REGARDING PROMOTION OF RURAL TOURISM.

DETAILS  OF  PROJECTS  SANCTIONED  IN  RURAL  AND  TRIBAL CIRCUIT UNDER SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME

(Rs. in crore)

| Sl. No.   | State/UT     | Name of the Circuit   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                                            | Amt. Sanctioned   | Amount released   |
|-----------|--------------|-----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| 2015-16   | 2015-16      | 2015-16               | 2015-16                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2015-16           | 2015-16           |
| 1         | Nagaland     | Tribal Circuit        | Development of Tribal Circuit Peren- Kohima- Wokha in Nagaland                                                                                                                                                 | 97.36             | 72.05             |
| 2         | Chhattisgarh | Tribal Circuit        | Development of Tribal Tourism Circuit in Jashpur- Kunkuri- Mainpat- Ambikapur- Maheshpur - Ratanpur- Kurdar- Sarodadadar Gangrel- Kondagaon - Nathyanawagaon- Jagdalpur Chitrakoot- Tirthgarh in Chhattisgarh. | 99.94             | 45.01             |
| 2016-17   | 2016-17      | 2016-17               | 2016-17                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2016-17           | 2016-17           |
| 3         | Telangana    | Tribal Circuit        | Integrated Development of Mulugu- Laknavaram- Medavaram- Tadvai- Damaravi- Mallur- Bogatha                                                                                                                     | 84.40             | 38.37             |

|         |          |                | Waterfalls as Tribal Circuit in Telangana.                                  |         |         |
|---------|----------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|
| 4       | Nagaland | Tribal circuit | Development of Tribal circuit (Mokokchung- Tuensang-Mon) in Nagaland        | 99.67   | 49.83   |
| 2017-18 | 2017-18  | 2017-18        | 2017-18                                                                     | 2017-18 | 2017-18 |
| 5       | Bihar    | Rural Circuit  | Development of Gandhi Circuit: Bhitiharwa - Chandrahia - Turkaulia in Bihar | 44.65   | 8.93    |

*******