Lok Sabha Question No. 1281 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-10
Subject: Inflow of Tourists in Darjeeling and Kalimpong
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1281 ANSWERED ON 10.02.2020

## INFLOW OF TOURISTS IN DARJEELING AND KALIMPONG

## 1281. SHRI RAJU BISTA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of domestic and international tourists arrival in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong from 2014 till date;
- (b) the share of central funds used to augment tourism infrastructure and related facilities in these two districts from 2014 till date; and
- (c) the steps taken or proposed to be undertaken by the Government  to  promote  Darjeeling  and  Kalimpong  region  at international platform?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a): Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India  does  not  maintain district  wise  data  on  domestic  and  international  tourists  arrivals. However,  details  of  Domestic  Tourist  Visits  (DTV)  and  Foreign Tourist  Visits  (FTV)  to  West  Bengal  from  2014  to  2018  are  given below:

| years          |   Domestic Tourist Visits (DTV) |   Foreign Tourist Visits (FTV) |
|----------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| 2014           |                        49029590 |                        1375740 |
| 2015           |                        70193450 |                        1489500 |
| 2016           |                        74460250 |                        1528700 |
| 2017           |                        79630345 |                        1574915 |
| 2018 (Revised) |                        85657365 |                        1617105 |

(b): Development of tourism, is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration.

However,  Ministry of Tourism, Government  of  India under its schemes of Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD and Assistance to Central Agencies, provides central financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territories/Central Agencies for development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities. The projects under the schemes are identified for development in consultation with State Governments/UT  Administration  and  are  sanctioned  subject  to availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence  to  scheme  guidelines  and  utilization  of  funds  released earlier.

## Details  of  projects  under  Swadesh  Darshan  and  PRASHAD  in West Bengal are given below:

| Schemes         |   No. of Projects sanctioned | Year sanctioned   |   Amount sanctioned (in Rs. Crore) |
|-----------------|------------------------------|-------------------|------------------------------------|
| Swadesh Darshan |                            1 | 2015-16           |                              85.39 |
| PRASHAD         |                            1 | 2016-17           |                              30.03 |

- (c): 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 different States and UTs of the country including  Darjeeling  and  Kalimpong  region.  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  different  States  and  Union Territories of the Country.

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