Lok Sabha Question No. 1846 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Special Package to less frequented Tourist Places
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1846 ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016

## SPECIAL PACKAGE TO LESS FREQUENTED TOURIST PLACES

## 1846. SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  give  special package  for  exploring  the  unmapped  and  lesser  frequented tourist places to attract more domestic and foreign tourists in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  measures  taken  by  the Government  in  this  regard  along  with  the  sites  identified  in various  States/UTs  of  the  country,  State/UT-wise  including Madhya Pradesh;
- (c) whether  the  Government  considers  to  give  focus  on  special financial assistance to the areas to be developed as the next tourist hotspots in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations under the  Swadesh Darshan  and  National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD). Under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme  financial  assistance  is  given  to  create  tourist  circuits around specific themes which could be confined to a State or could be a regional circuit covering more than a State/UT to attract tourist having special interest for visiting  such  places.  The  PRASAD Scheme aims to  address  the  need  for  holistic  development  of  the selected pilgrimage destinations by way  of providing Central Financial Assistance to the States/Union Territories.

(b): The thirteen theme  based circuits identified for development under  the  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  are  the  North-East  India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit,  Desert  Circuit,  Tribal  Circuit,  Eco  Circuit,  Wildlife  Circuit, Rural Circuit,  Spiritual  Circuit,  Ramayana  Circuit  and  Heritage Circuit.  In  so  far  as  PRASAD  is  concerned,  twenty  three  religious cities/sites  have  been  identified  for  development  which  inter-alia include Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Amritsar (Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan),  Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh),  Dwarka (Gujarat),  Deoghar (Jharkhand), Belur (West Bengal), Gaya (Bihar), Guruvayoor (Kerala), Hazratbal  (Jammu  &  Kashmir),  Kamakhya  (Assam),  Kanchipuram (Tamil  Nadu),  Kedarnath  (Uttarakhand),  Mathura  (Uttar  Pradesh), Patna  (Bihar),  Puri  (Odisha),  Srisailam  (Andhra  Pradesh),  Somnath (Gujarat), Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra), Ujjain  (Madhya  Pradesh),  Varanasi  (Uttar  Pradesh)  and  Vellankani (Tamil Nadu).

A total of 46 projects including those for Madhya Pradesh have been sanctioned for a total amount of Rs.3944.88 Crore under the Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme.  A  total  of  14  projects  have  been sanctioned  for  an  amount  of  Rs.332.84  Crore  under  the  PRASAD Scheme. (c) and (d): Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  India  as  a  holistic tourism destination including the various tourism sites and products of  every  State/Union  Territory  of  the  country  in  the  domestic  and international  markets.  The  receipt  of  proposals  from  the  State Governments/UT  Administrations  for  Central  Financial  Assistance for tourism projects is a continuous process. The proposals received are  examined  with  reference  to  the  prescribed  guidelines  and financial assistance  is extended  for such  projects subject to fulfilment  of  the  stipulated  conditions,  operational  viability  and availability of funds.

*******