Lok Sabha Question No. 3028 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Promotion of Eco-Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: VIRENDER KASHYAP

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3028 ANSWERED ON 05.12.2016

## PROMOTION OF ECO-TOURISM

## 3028. SHRI VIRENDER KASHYAP:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce any scheme to promote eco-tourism in various States of the country;
- (b) whether the Government has received any proposals from the various States for development and promotion of eco-tourism;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the status of the proposals along with  the  funds  allocated  and  expenditure  incurred  by  the Government during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
- (d) the employment provided and revenue generated through ecotourism during the last three years, State/UT-wise; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  would  provide  forest  land  to  start more projects to increase tourist spots in hilly areas and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Yes,  Madam.  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  the Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  in  the  year 2014-15  for integrated development  of theme-based tourist  circuits. Eco Circuit is one of the thirteen thematic circuits identified for development under the scheme.    The  following  projects  have  been  sanctioned  under  the Eco Circuit theme so far:

(Rs. in crore)

|   Sl. No. | State (Year of Sanction)   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                 |   Amount Sanctioned |
|-----------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|         1 | Uttarakhand (2015-16)      | Integrated Development of Eco- Tourism, Adventure Sports, Associated Tourism related Infrastructure for Development of Tehri Lake & Surroundings as New Destination-District Tehri. |               80.37 |

|   2. | Telangana (2015-16)   | Integrated Development of Eco Tourism Circuit in Mahaboobnagar District.                                                 |   91.62 |
|------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
|    3 | Kerala (2015-16)      | Development of Pathanamthitta - Gavi - Vagamon - Thekkady as Eco Tourism Circuit in Idukki and Pathanamthitta Districts. |   99.22 |

(d): Ministry of Tourism does not separately compile the information  on  employment  and  revenue  generated  from  various tourism products. However, the Foreign Exchange Earnings through tourism in India during 2013, 2014, 2015 and January -October, 2016 were Rs.1,07,671 crore, Rs.1,23,320 crore, Rs.1,35,193 crore and Rs.1,24,371 crore, respectively.

As  per  2nd Tourism  Satellite  Account  (TSA)  of  India,  and  its subsequent  estimates,  the  contribution  of  tourism  to  the  total employment  of  the  country  during  2009-10,  2010-11,  2011-12  and 2012-13 was 10.17%, 10.78%, 11.49% and 12.36%, respectively. This information for the subsequent years is not available.

(e): The land for the development of tourism projects is provided by the respective State Govt/UT and Central Agency. The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance to State Governments/Union Territories and Central Agencies for development of tourism infrastructure in the country, under respective schemes.

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