Lok Sabha Question No. 1245 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Promotion of Tourism in Bihar
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†1245

## LOK SABHA ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN BIHAR

## †1245. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the special steps taken by the Government to promote tourism in Bihar and the outcome thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  constituted  National  Tourist Advisory Council (NTAC);
- if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  structure  of  the  said
- (c) Council;
- (d)
- the terms and reference of the said Council; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government for developing India as a global tourist attraction?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  India  as  a  holistic  destination including its various tourism products. Activities are undertaken for promoting varied tourism products and destinations of India including Bihar in the Domestic and International markets under the Domestic Promotion and Publicity including Hospitality (DPPH) and Overseas Promotion and Publicity including Marketing Development Assistance (OPMD) schemes.

Bodh Gaya in Bihar is a significant Buddhist Heritage site. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India organizes an International Buddhist Conclave biennially.  Participants  in  the  Conclave  include eminent  Buddhist  scholars,  opinion  makers,  tour  operators  and media personalities from Overseas.

The Ministry of Tourism has organized Road Shows in Yangon (Myanmar), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and

Bangkok (Thailand)  in  May  2018  for  promotion  of  India's  Buddhist Heritage and Buddhist sites including Bodh Gaya. In 2019, Buddhist heritage  sites  were  promoted  through various  road  shows  organised  in  East  Asia,  South  East  Asia, Americas, Australasia and Europe. The Ministry of Tourism has produced a short film on Buddhist sites  and  has  a  dedicated  website  on  important  Buddhist  sites  in India  i.e  indiathelandofbuddha.in.  The  website  showcases  Bodh Gaya also. Under the  Regional Connectivity Scheme Udan 3, 46 tourism routes  have  been  incorporated  by  the  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation. These include Gaya (Bodhgaya) for improved connectivity. Gaya is already  also  connected  with  important  Buddhist  source  markets such as Thailand, Srilanka, Bhutan, etc.

(b) to (d): National Tourist Advisory Council (NTAC) was constituted vide order dated 27th October 2016 with the validity of three  years.  Secretary  (Tourism)  is  the  Vice  Chairman  of  the Council.  Details  of  the  members  of  the  Council  and  terms  are attached at Annexure.

(e): Ministry of Tourism took the campaigns to the next level, the 'Incredible  India  2.0'  campaign  was  launched  in  September  2017, which marks a shift from generic promotions undertaken across the world  to  market  specific  promotional  plans  and  content  creation. The campaign focuses on digital and social media and the promotion of destinations including Bihar and tourism products.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (b)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†1245 ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020 REGARDING PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN BIHAR.

## Government of India

## Ministry of Tourism

C-1 Hutments, Dalhousie Road, New Delhi-110011

File No. 14(1)/2013- MRD

Order

It  has  been  decided  with  the  approval  of  Hon'ble  Minister  for Tourism to constitute a 'National Tourism Advisory council' with the following composition:

- A. Chairman

: Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism

- B. Vice- Chairman

: Secretary (Tourism), Government of India

- C. Members:

- I. Ministries of Government of India:
1. Secretary, Home (or his representative, not below the level of Joint Secretary)
2. Secretary,  Finance  (or  his  representative,  not  below the level of Joint Secretary)
3. Secretary,  Foreign  (or  his  representative,  not  below the level of Joint Secretary)
4. Secretary,  Culture  (or  his  representative,  not  below the level of Joint Secretary)
5. Secretary,  Civil  (or  his  representative,  not  below  the level of Joint Secretary)
6. Secretary, Urban Development (or his representative, not below the level of Joint Secretary)
7. Secretary, Road Transport & Highway (or his representative, not below the level of Joint Secretary)
8. Secretary,  Shipping  (or  his  representative,  not  below the level of Joint Secretary)
9. Secretary, Drinking water and sanitation (or his representative, not below the level of Joint Secretary)
10. Chairman, Railway Board
11. Principal Adviser (Tourism), NITI Aayog
12. Additional Member  (Tourism  &  Catering), Railway Board.
- II. Experts in the field of travel and tourism management etc, who are member in their individual capacity:
1. Shri Subhash Goyal, ex-President, Indian Association of Tour Operators
2. Shri Nakul Anand, Executive Director, ITC Limited,
3. Shri Vivek Nair, CMD, Hotel Leelaventure Limited,
4. Shri  Joytsna  Suri,  Ex-President  FICCI/CMD,  Bharat Hotels,
5. Shri  Karan  S.  Anand,  Head  of  Relationships  and Suppliers Management, Cox& Kings Limited,
20. 6.
21. Shri Amitabh Sinha, IBN7,
7. Dr.  Narendra  Gupta,  Satya  Medical  Centre,  A-98/A, Sector-34, Noida-201301,
8. Shri  Pradeep  Narayan  Singh,  MD,  Hotel  Pradeep,  C27/111C, Jagat Ganj, Varanasi-221002,
9. Shri  Gyan  Singh  Rathore,  Advisory  Board  Member, Wockhardt Foundation, Mumbai,
10. Ms. Tanuja Pandey, MF-21, Eldeco Mansionz, Sector48, Sohna Road, Gurgaon-122018,
26. Ms. Alka Pareek, A-205, Defence Colony, New Delhi-
11. 110024
12. Shri Alok Vatsa, C-32, Sector-33, Noida-201301

dated: 27.10.2016

## III. Ex- officio Members:

- 1.
- CMD, ITDC
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- President, IATO
- Chairman, FAITH
- Chairman, FIA
5. President, FH&RA
6. President, TAAI
- D. Member Secretary: JS level officer in charge of NTAC
2. The Council will act a 'Think Tank' and advice the Government on various policy matters relating to tourism.
3. The  Council  Would  have  tenure  of  3  years  from  the  date  of constitution and may meet as often as necessary.
4. The Council  may  co-opt  other  official  members  as  and  when required.
5. Entitlements  of  Experts  who  are  member  in  their  individual capacity:
- I. No  Honorarium  shall  be  payable  to  the  Experts  who  are member in their individual capacity.
- II. TA/DA and accommodation charges may be payable to the experts who may be members in their individual capacity at  per  with  Group  'A'  officer  of  Level  13  as  per  the  pay matrix of 7 th   pay  commission  (8700/-  Grade  pay  as  per  6 th pay  commission)  of  the  Govt.  of  India,  as  &  when  the meetings of the NTAC  are held. The same will be reimbursed  to them  upon  specific request subject to producing valid proof of travel and stay.
- III. Accommodation charges for a maximum of 2 nights and DA for  a  maximum  of  2  days  may  be  payable  subject  to availability of flights for out station members.
- IV. On specific request stay arrangements may be made by the Ministry of Tourism only in ITDC hotels subjects to availability  of  rooms  of  entitled  amount.  Vehicles  may  be provided subject to their availability, otherwise fare as per their entitlement would be provided.
- V. The experts who are members in their individual capacity shall not be entitled for privileges like I-Card, Red Beacon Car etc.

Sd/(Shyam Sundar Verma) Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

1. All members of the National Tourism Advisory Council. 2. Joint Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, New Delhi- for information. 3. PS to MOS (Tourism/ IC) 4. PS  to  Secretary  (Tourism)/  PS  to  AS&  FA  (Tourism)/  PS  to  ADG (MR)/ PS to JS (Tourism)/ PS to ADG (Tourism)/ PS to EA(Tourism) 5. Director (Finance), Ministry of Tourism. 6. Pay & Accounts Office, Ministry of Tourism.

Sd/(Shyam Sundar Varma) Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

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