Lok Sabha Question No. 1585 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Agreement for Tourism Benefits
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1585 ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## AGREEMENT FOR TOURISM BENEFITS

1585. SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has entered into an agreement with an  international  agency  to  increase  tourism-related  benefits for local communities in targeted destinations; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether it is expected to have far-reaching social, economic and  environmental  benefits  by  targeting  local  communities and entrepreneurs; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): The  signing  of  Agreements  with  various  international agencies is an ongoing process. The details of Agreements entered with  various  International  Agencies  to  develop  tourism  in  the country including tourism-related benefits for local communities in targeted destinations may be seen at Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1585 ANSWERED ON 05.03.2017 REGARDING AGREEMENT FOR TOURISM BENEFITS.

The details of External Assistance received for the development of tourism infrastructure and other related activities are as follows:

- i. Buddhist Circuits  in  Uttar  Pradesh  and  Bihar  (Phase-I)  (19881998): The Government of India and Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) entered into loan agreement for 9244 JPY million  in  1988  for  Development  of  Buddhist  Circuits  in  Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (Phase-I). This project covered Buddhist Centres of  Sarnath,  Kushinagar,  Piprawaha,  Srawasti  in  Uttar  Pradesh  and Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Vaishali in Bihar. The above project was completed in December 1988. The total expenditure incurred on the project was Rs.250.95 crore (appox).
- ii. Ajanta- Ellora Conservation and Tourism Development Project (Phase-I) (1992-2002): The Government of India and Japan Bank for International  Cooperation  (JBIC)  entered  into  loan  agreement  for 3745  JPY  million  in  1992  for  Ajanta  -Ellora  Conservation  and Tourism Development Project (Phase I). The places covered under the project were Ajanta and Ellora in Maharashtra. The project was completed in 2002 and the total expenditure incurred was Rs.127.50 crore in March 2002.
- iii. Ajanta  Ellora  Conservation  and  Tourism  Development  Project (Phase-II):  A  loan  Agreement  for  an  amount  equivalent  to  7331 million Japanese Yen (Rs.299 crore approx was signed between the Government  of  India  (Department  of  Economic  Affairs,  Ministry  of Finance) and JICA on 31st March 2003 for AEDP-II. The loan became effective from 31st July 2003 (Loan Agreement No. ID - P150). The places covered were Ajanta, Ellora, Aurangabad, Daulatabad, Patnadevi,  Lonar  in  Maharashtra.    The  work  on  the  project  is complete and the validity of  loan  Agreement  expired  on  31st  July 2014.

iv. A loan agreement for an amount equivalent to Japanese Yen 7331  million  was  signed  with  Japan  International  Cooperation Agency  (JICA)  in  the  year  2003  for  Phase  II  of  Ajanta  Ellora Conservation  and  Tourism  Development  Project.    The  validity  of above loan ended on 31st July 2014. v. An  agreement  for  Rs.450  lakhs  was  signed  between  the Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India,  the  Departments  of Tourism  of  the  Governments  of  Bihar  and  Uttar  Pradesh  and  the International  Finance  Corporation  (World  Bank  Group)  in  2013  to cooperate in upgrading the quality of services and goods provided for  tourists  along  the  'Buddhist  Circuit'  in  India.  The  project  has been completed and the strategy for integrated tourism development  of  the  Buddhist  Circuit  in  Bihar  and  Uttar  Pradesh 'INVESTING  IN  BUDDHIST  CIRCUIT'  was  launched  on  17th  July 2014. vi. South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development project (SATIDP)-India:  SATIDP-India  with  an  Asian  Development  Bank (ADB) loan of $20 million was approved by ADB on 16th November 2009,  signed  on  4th  October  2010  and  made  effective  on  25th January 2011, focuses on the state of Sikkim. The project components included (i) connectivity enhancement, (ii) nature and culture based tourism destination improvements, and (iii) support to community participation, capacity building and project management. vii. Infrastructure  Development  Investment  Program  for  Tourism (IDIPT):  IDIPT  was  approved  by  ADB  on  4th  October  2010  as  a Multitranche  Financing  Facility  (MFF)  for  $250  Million.  The  loan allocations  are  $66.61  million  to  the  State  of  Himachal  Pradesh, $61.98 million to the State of Punjab, $55.79 million to the State of Tamil  Nadu  and  $61.62  million  to  the  State  of  Uttarakhand.  The Program  targets enhanced  economic  growth  and  provision of livelihood opportunities for local  communities  through  tourism infrastructure development with a focus on preservation and development  of  built,  natural  and  cultural  heritage  and  incidental services.

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