Lok Sabha Question No. 266 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-06
Subject: National Tourism Advisory Council
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*266 ANSWERED ON 06.08.2018

## NATIONAL TOURISM ADVISORY COUNCIL

*266. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- nb (a) the special steps taken by the Government to promote tourism in Uttar Pradesh along with the outcome thereof; (b) whether the Government has constituted a National  Tourism Advisory Council; (c) if so, the details thereof along with the composition and terms of reference of the said Council; and the further steps taken by the Government to promote India as

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

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- (d) a global tourism hub?

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*266 ANSWERED ON 06.08.2018 REGARDING NATIONAL TOURISM ADVISORY COUNCIL.

- (a): The Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination and as part of its on-going activities, annually releases domestic and international  print,  electronic  and  online  media  campaigns  under  the 'Incredible  India'  brand-line,  to  promote  various  tourism  destinations and  products  in  the  different  States  and  Union  Territories  of  the country  including  Uttar  Pradesh.  Promotions  are  also  undertaken through  the  Website  and  Social  Media  accounts  of  the  Ministry.  In addition,  the  India  tourism  Offices  in  India  and  overseas  undertake various  promotional  activities  with  the  objective  of  showcasing  the tourism potential of the country and increasing tourist arrivals / tourist visits to the  different States  /  Union  Territories of  the  country. Domestic Tourist Visits to the State of Uttar Pradesh increased from 213544204 in 2016 to 233977619 (Provisional) in 2017, a growth of 9.6 %  and  Foreign  Tourist  Visits  from  3156812  in  2016  to  3556204 (Provisional) in 2017, a growth of 12.7%.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  extends  Central  Financial  Assistance (CFA)  to  State  Governments/Union  Territories  (UTs)  including  Uttar Pradesh  for  the  development  of  tourism  infrastructure  under  the Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  for  Integrated  Development  of  Theme Based Tourist Circuits and  PRASHAD-National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive. The projects 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.  Under  the  Scheme  of Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development, CFA is provided to central agencies like Archaeological Survey  of  India,  Port  Trust  of  India,  ITDC,  Ministry  of  Railways,  etc. CFA is also given to States and UTs for organising Fairs, Festivals and tourism  related  events  and  for  IT  related  projects.  The  list  of  the projects sanctioned under these Schemes to the State Government of Uttar Pradesh during the last three years is given in Annexure.

- (b) and (c):   The Ministry of Tourism has constituted a National Tourism Advisory  Council  (NTAC),  under  the  chairmanship  of  the  Minister  of State (I/C) for Tourism, on 27 th  October 2016 with a tenure of 3 years from the date of constitution.  The composition of the NTAC includes:
- (i) Secretary (Tourism) as Vice Chairman
- (ii) Secretaries/representatives  not  below  the  rank  of  Joint Secretary  of    the  Ministries  of  Home,  Finance,  Foreign Affairs,  Culture,  Civil  Aviation,  Urban  Development,  Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Drinking Water and Sanitation,  Chairman  -  Railway  Board,  Principal  Adviser (Tourism)  -  NITI  Aayog,  Additional  Member  (Tourism  & Catering) - Railway Board.
- (iii) Experts in the field of Travel and Tourism Management
- (iv) CMD -ITDC and Presidents/Chairmen of Trade and Hospitality Associations

The Council is an advisory body which acts as a 'Think Tank' and advises the Ministry on various policy matters relating to tourism.

(d): The Ministry of Tourism has launched the 'Incredible India 2.0' Campaign  in  2017-18  for  promoting  India  as  a  tourism  destination globally. The campaign aims at moving to the next level of promotion and marketing with a shift from generic promotions across the world to  market  specific  promotional  plans,  content  creation  and  use  of thematic creatives on various niche tourism products including yoga, wellness, wildlife, cuisine, heritage, medical  tourism, golf, river cruises,  fashion,  etc.  The  Campaign  covers  the  important  source markets  for  Indian  tourism  and  also  takes  into  account  emerging markets with significant potential.

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ANNEXURE STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO.*266 ANSWERED ON 06.08.2018 REGARDING NATIONAL TOURISM ADVISORY COUNCIL. THE  DETAILS  OF  PROJECTS  SANCTIONED  TO  UTTAR  PRADESH UNDER  THE  SWADESH  DARSHAN  SCHEME  DURING  THE  LAST

THREE YEARS

(Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.      | State/U T     | Name of the Circuit   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                                     | Amount Sanctioned   | Amount Released   |
|--------------|---------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
| Year 2016-17 | Year 2016-17  | Year 2016-17          | Year 2016-17                                                                                                                                                                                            | Year 2016-17        | Year 2016-17      |
| 1.           | Uttar Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit      | Development of Buddhist Circuit - Srawasti, Kushinagar, & Kapilvastu in Uttar Pradesh.                                                                                                                  | 99.97               | 19.99             |
| 2.           | Uttar Pradesh | Ramayana Circuit      | Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur as Ramayana Circuit in Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                         | 69.45               | 13.89             |
| 3.           | Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit     | Development of Spiritual Circuit (Shahjahanpur - Basti - Ahar- Aligharh - Kasgunj - Sarosi- Pratapgarh - Unnao - Kaushambi- Mirzapur - Gorakpur- Kairana- Doamriyagunj - Bagpat - Barabanki - Azamgarh) | 76.00               | 15.20             |

| 4.           | Uttar Pradesh   | Spiritual Circuit   | Development of Spiritual Circuit - II (Bijnor - Meerut- Kanpur- Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra- Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi) in Uttar Pradesh under Swadesh Darshan Scheme   | 63.77        | 31.89        |
|--------------|-----------------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|--------------|
| 5.           | Uttar Pradesh   | Heritage Circuit    | Development of Heritage Circuit (Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- Marhar Dham (SantKabir Nagar)- Chauri Chaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur) - Mavahar Sthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut) in Uttar Pradesh under Swadesh Darshan Scheme                                      | 41.51        | 8.30         |
| Year 2017-18 | Year 2017-18    | Year 2017-18        | Year 2017-18                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Year 2017-18 | Year 2017-18 |
| 6.           | Uttar Pradesh   | Ramayan a Circuit   | Development of Ayodhya under Ramayana Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme                                                                                                                                                                                      | 133.30       | 23.53        |

THE  DETAILS  OF  PROJECTS  SANCTIONED  TO  UTTAR  PRADESH UNDER THE PRASHAD SCHEME DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS

(Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.      | State/UT      | Name of the Project                               | Amount Sanctioned   | Amount Released                     |
|--------------|---------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Year 2015-16 | Year 2015-16  |                                                   |                     |                                     |
| 1.           | Uttar Pradesh | Development of Varanasi                           | 20.40               | 16.32                               |
| Year 2017-18 | Year 2017-18  |                                                   |                     |                                     |
| 2.           | Uttar Pradesh | Cruise Tourism in River Ganga, Varanasi           | 10.72               | 2.14                                |
| 3.           | Uttar Pradesh | Development of Varanasi under PRASHAD Scheme - II | 62.82               | Only Administrative Approval given. |

THE  DETAILS  OF  PROJECTS  SANCTIONED  FOR  UTTAR  PRADESH UNDER  THE  SCHEME  OF  ASSISTANCE  TO  CENTRAL  AGENCIES DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS

(Rs. in Lakh)

| Sl. No.      | State/UT      | Central Agency   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                     | Amt. Sanctioned   | Amt. Released   |
|--------------|---------------|------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------|
| Year 2017-18 | Year 2017-18  | Year 2017-18     |                                                                                                                                         |                   |                 |
| 1.           | Uttar Pradesh | CPWD             | Illumination of three monuments in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (Dashashwamedh Ghat to Darbanga Ghat; Tulsi Manas Mandir and Sarnath museum) | 293.55            | 234.845         |

THE  DETAILS  OF  CENTRAL  FINANCIAL  ASSISTANCE  (CFA)  GIVEN TO  UTTAR  PRADESH  FOR  ORGANISING  FAIRS,  FESTIVALS  & TOURISM  RELATED  EVENTS  AND  FOR  IT  RELATED  PROJECTS DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS

(Rs. in Lakh)

| Sl. No.      | Name of Projects                                                                        | Amount Sanctioned   | Amount Released   |
|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
| Year 2016-17 | Year 2016-17                                                                            |                     |                   |
| 1.           | Celebration of Ganga Mahotsav 2016, Varanasi                                            | 25.00               | 25.00             |
| 2.           | CFA for Celebration of Shilpotsav 2016, Noida                                           | 30.00               | 30.00             |
| Year 2017-18 | Year 2017-18                                                                            |                     |                   |
| 3.           | CFA for Shilpotsav 2017, Noida                                                          | 25.00               | 25.00             |
| 4.           | Organizing a two day seminar on Cultural/ Tourism Development at Naimisharanya, Sitapur | 25.00               | 25.00             |
| 5.           | CFA for Web Portal for Varanasi                                                         | 42.68               | 38.412            |

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