Lok Sabha Question No. 121 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-01
Subject: Development of Tourist Places
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*121 ANSWERED ON 01.07.2019

## DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST PLACES

## †*121. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  formulate  any special action plan for undertaking development of tourism in Nalanda and Bodhgaya of Bihar and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formulate  any  action plan to develop all the tourist places in the Nalanda district of Bihar in view of its historical importance;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof including the amount of funds spent for  development  of  historical  places  in  the  State  of  Bihar during the last five years;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  formulate  any action  plan  to  promote  tourism  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the State-wise  details  of  expenditure  incurred  in  the  country during the last five years for promotion of tourism; and
- (e) the benefits accrued to the said States as a result thereof and the  revenue  received  by  the  Union  and  State  Governments therefrom?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

*******

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*121 ANSWERED ON 01.07.2019 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST PLACES.

(a) to (c): Development  and  promotion  of  tourism  is  primarily  the responsibility  of  the  concerned  State  Governments/Union  Territory (UT) Administrations. The Ministry of Tourism, under its scheme of Swadesh  Darshan,  PRASHAD  and  Assistance  to  Central  Agencies provides financial assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations/Central Agencies for development of tourism infrastructure in the country.

The projects for development under the schemes are identified in consultation with the State Governments/UT Administrations/Central  Agencies  and  are  sanctioned  subject  to submission of project proposals, their adherence to relevant scheme guidelines, submission of suitable detailed project reports, availability of funds and utilization of funds released earlier.

Nalanda and Bodhgaya are covered under the Buddhist circuit theme  of Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme.    Ministry has identified Mahabodhi  Temple,  Bodhgaya  in  Bihar  as  one  of  the  site  for development under the development of Iconic Tourists Sites in the country.    Gaya  has  also  been  identified  as  one  of  the  cities  for development  under  the  PRASHAD  scheme.  The  details  of  projects sanctioned by the Ministry to the State of Bihar for development of tourism during the last five years are given at the Annexure.

(d): The Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination covering its various tourism destinations and products across different States/Union Territories in the country. As part of its on -going activities, the Ministry annually releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns in the international and domestic markets, under the Incredible India brand -line. Promotions are also undertaken through the Social Media accounts and website of the Ministry . In addition, the Indiatourism Offices in India and overseas disseminate information and undertake various promotional activities with the objective of showcasing the varied tourist destinations and products of the country. The above activities are carried out under two schemes: (i) Domestic Promotion  and  Publicity  including  Hospitality for  promotion  of Domestic  Tourism  and     (ii)  Restructured  Scheme  of  Overseas Promotion and Publicity including Marketing Development Assistance  to  promote  Indian  tourism  in  Overseas  Markets . The budget allocated and expenditure incurred under these two schemes during the last five financial years is as follows: -

| Domestic Promotion and Publicity including Hospitality (Rs. in crore)                                            | Domestic Promotion and Publicity including Hospitality (Rs. in crore)                                            | Domestic Promotion and Publicity including Hospitality (Rs. in crore)                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                                                                             | Budget                                                                                                           | Expenditure                                                                                                      |
| 2014-15                                                                                                          | 135                                                                                                              | 117.79                                                                                                           |
| 2015-16                                                                                                          | 126.95                                                                                                           | 128.74*                                                                                                          |
| 2016 - 17                                                                                                        | 75                                                                                                               | 78.84*                                                                                                           |
| 2017 - 18                                                                                                        | 90                                                                                                               | 89.84                                                                                                            |
| 2018 - 19                                                                                                        | 127.40                                                                                                           | 127.34 #                                                                                                         |
| Restructured Scheme of Overseas Promotion and Publicity including Marketing Development Assistance Rs. in crore) | Restructured Scheme of Overseas Promotion and Publicity including Marketing Development Assistance Rs. in crore) | Restructured Scheme of Overseas Promotion and Publicity including Marketing Development Assistance Rs. in crore) |
| Year                                                                                                             | Budget                                                                                                           | ( Expenditure                                                                                                    |
| 2014-15                                                                                                          | 164                                                                                                              | 166.36                                                                                                           |
| 2015-16                                                                                                          | 190.05                                                                                                           | 170.83                                                                                                           |
| 2016 - 17                                                                                                        | 223                                                                                                              | 192.24                                                                                                           |
| 2017 - 18                                                                                                        | 273.37                                                                                                           | 271.46                                                                                                           |
| 2018 - 19                                                                                                        | 414.65                                                                                                           | 413.63#                                                                                                          |

(e): The  benefits  of  the  above  efforts  are  measured  in  terms  of Foreign  Tourist  Arrivals  (FTAs),  Foreign  Exchange  Earnings  (FEEs)

and Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs). The details of same during the last three years are as follows:

| Year   |   FTAs (in Million) |   Growth Rate (%) | FEEs (Rs. in crores)   |   Growth Rate (%) | DTVs (in Million)   | Growth Rate (%)   |
|--------|---------------------|-------------------|------------------------|-------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
| 2015   |                8.03 |               4.5 | 1,34,844               |              12   | 1431.97             | 11.60             |
| 2016   |                8.8  |               9.7 | 1,54,146               |              14.3 | 1615.39             | 12.8              |
| 2017   |               10.04 |              14   | 1,77,874               |              15.4 | 1652.49             | 2.3               |
| 2018*  |               10.56 |               5.2 | 1,94,882               |               9.6 | Not                 | --                |

*Provisional Estimates #The growth has been calculated in terms of absolute total

********

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*121 ANSWERED ON 01.07.2019 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST PLACES.

THE DETAILS OF PROJECTS  SANCTIONED  UNDER  SWADESH DARSHAN AND PRASHAD SCHEMES IN BIHAR

(Rs. in crores)

| S. No.          | Circuit/ Sanction Year     | Project Name                                                                                                 | Amt. Sanctioned   |
|-----------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| SWADESH DARSHAN | SWADESH DARSHAN            | SWADESH DARSHAN                                                                                              |                   |
| 1.              | Tirthankar Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Tirthankar Circuit in Bihar: Vaishali - Arrah - Masad - Patna - Rajgir -Pawapuri - Champapuri | 52.39             |
| 2.              | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17  | Integrated Development of Kanwaria route: Sultanganj to Deoghar                                              | 52.35             |
| 3.              | Buddhist circuit 2016-17   | Development of Buddhist circuit- Construction of Convention Centre at Bodhgaya, Bihar                        | 98.73             |
| 4.              | Rural circuit 2017-18      | Development of Rural (Gandhi) Circuit: Bhitiharwa - Chandrahia - Turkaulia                                   | 44.65             |
| 5.              | Spiritual Circuit 2017-18  | Development of Spiritual Circuit- Mandar Hill and Ang Pradesh                                                | 53.49             |
| PRASHAD         | PRASHAD                    | PRASHAD                                                                                                      | PRASHAD           |
| 6.              | 2014-15                    | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple, Gaya, Bihar                                             | 4.27              |
| 7.              | 2015-16                    | Development at Patna Sahib                                                                                   | 41.54             |

*******