Lok Sabha Question No. 326 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: National Tourism Advisory Council
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RITI PATHAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*326 ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

NATIONAL TOURISM ADVISORY COUNCIL

†*326. SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the special steps taken by the Government to promote tourism in Madhya 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.

********

- (d) a global tourism hub?

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*326 ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018 REGARDING NATIONAL TOURISM ADVISORY COUNCIL.

- (a): The Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination and as part of its ongoing 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 of the country including Madhya Pradesh. Promotions are also undertaken through the website and Social Media accounts of the Ministry. In addition, the Indiatourism Offices in India and overseas undertake  various  promotional  activities  with  the  objective  of showcasing  the  tourism  potential  of  the  country  and  increasing tourist arrivals/visits to the different States/Union Territories of the country.  Domestic  Tourist  Visits  to  the  State  of  Madhya  Pradesh increased  from  7,79,75,738  in  2015  to  15,04,90,339  in  2016,  a growth of 93%.

Ministry  of  Tourism  extends  Central  Financial  Assistance  to State Governments/Union Territories including Madhya 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. The list of the projects  sanctioned  under  the  Swadesh  Darshan  and  PRASHAD Scheme  to  State  Government  of  Madhya  Pradesh  during  the  last three years is given in Annexure.

(b) & (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  27th  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.
- 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  &
- (ii) 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): During  the  current  financial  year  2017-18,  the  Ministry  has launched the 'Incredible India 2.0' Campaign 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,  heritage,  medical  tourism,  golf, cuisine, wildlife, river cruises, fashion, etc.

***********

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO.†*326 ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018 REGARDING NATIONAL TOURISM ADVISORY COUNCIL.

THE  DETAILS  OF  PROJECTS  SANCTIONED  TO  MADHYA  PRADESH UNDER  THE  SWADESH  DARSHAN  SCHEME  DURING  THE  LAST THREE YEARS.

(Rs in crore)

| Sl. No.      | State/UT       | Name of the Circuit   | Name of the Project                                                                                                     | Amt. Sanctioned   | Amount released   |
|--------------|----------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Year 2015-16 | Year 2015-16   | Year 2015-16          | Year 2015-16                                                                                                            | Year 2015-16      | Year 2015-16      |
| 1.           | Madhya Pradesh | Wildlife Circuit      | Development of Wildlife Circuit at Panna- Mukundpur- Sanjay- Dubri- Bandhavgarh- Kanha- Mukki- Pench in Madhya Pradesh. | 92.22             | 46.11             |
| Year 2016-17 | Year 2016-17   | Year 2016-17          | Year 2016-17                                                                                                            | Year 2016-17      | Year 2016-17      |
| 2.           | Madhya Pradesh | Buddhist Circuit      | Development of Buddhist Circuit in Sanchi-Satna- Rewa-Mandsaur- Dhar in Madhya                                          | 74.94             | 14.99             |
| 3.           | Madhya Pradesh | Heritage circuit      | Development of Heritage Circuit (Gwalior - Orchha - Khajuraho - Chanderi - Bhimbetka - Mandu) Madhya Pradesh            | 99.77             | 19.95             |
| Year 2017-18 | Year 2017-18   | Year 2017-18          | Year 2017-18                                                                                                            | Year 2017-18      | Year 2017-18      |
| 4.           | Madhya Pradesh | Eco Circuit           | Development of Gandhisagar Dam-                                                                                         | 99.62             | 19.92             |

| Mandleshwar Dam- Omkareshwar Dam- Indira Sagar Dam- Tawa Dam- Bargi Dam- Bheda Ghat- Bansagar Dam - Ken River under Eco circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

THE  DETAILS  OF  PROJECTS  SANCTIONED  TO  MADHYA  PRADESH UNDER THE PRASHAD SCHEME DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS (Rs in crore)

|   Sl. No. | State/UT                 | Name of the Project        |   Amt. Sanctioned |   Amt released |
|-----------|--------------------------|----------------------------|-------------------|----------------|
|         1 | Madhya Pradesh (2017-18) | Development of Omkareshwar |             40.67 |           8.13 |

********