Lok Sabha Question No. 3605 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-16
Subject: Promotion of Different Types of Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Durga Prasad Rao Balli

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3605 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2020

## PROMOTION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF TOURISM

## 3605. SHRI BALLI DURGA PRASAD RAO:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to promote different types of  tourism viz.,  health  tourism,  adventure  tourism,  cultural tourism, heritage tourism and wildlife tourism in our country;
- (b) whether  India's  tourism  industry  lacks  aggressive  online  & other  marketing  strategies  to  promote  India  as  a  must-visit location; and
- (c)
- if so, the action plan of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Ministry of Tourism undertakes promotional activities in domestic and international markets through its schemes of 'Domestic  Promotion  &  Publicity  including  Hospitality  (DPPH)'  and Overseas  Promotion  &  Publicity  Including  Market  Development Assistance  (OPMD).  Under  these  schemes,  Ministry  of  Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination under the Incredible India brand-line.  As  part  of  its  on-going  activities,  the  Ministry  releases print, electronic,  online  and  outdoor  media  campaigns  in  the international  and  domestic  markets,  to  promote  various  tourism destinations and different types of tourism including health tourism, adventure  tourism,  cultural  tourism,  heritage  tourism  and  wildlife tourism of the country.

The Ministry of Tourism has recognized Medical and Wellness Tourism as Niche Tourism Products and offers various facilities to promote  India  as  a  preferred  destination  as  well  as  facilitate  the visit  of  medical  tourists  to  the  country.  A  National  Medical  and Wellness Tourism Board has been constituted to provide a dedicated  institutional  framework  to  take  forward  the  cause  of promotion of Medical and Wellness Tourism including Ayurveda and any other format of Indian system of medicine covered by Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH).

The Ministry of Tourism has recognized Adventure Tourism, as a 'Niche' tourism product in order to promote India as a 365 days' destination and attract tourists with specific interest.  The Ministry has issued guidelines for the approval of Adventure Tour Operators, open  to  all  bona-fide  Adventure  Tour  Operators.  A  Task  Force  on Adventure Tourism has been set up to act as a forum for resolving issues related to development and promotion of Adventure Tourism in  the  country. The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  formulated  'Indian Adventure Tourism Guidelines' (Version 2.0) on Safety and Quality Norms  on  Adventure  Tourism  as  Basic  Minimum  Standards  for Adventure  Tourism  Activities  covering  31  verticals  involving  land, air  and  water  in  respect  of  adventure  tourism  activities.  These Guidelines  have  been  forwarded  to  the  State  Governments  and

Union Territory Administrations for compliance.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  its  schemes  of  Swadesh Darshan,  PRASHAD  and  Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/UTs/Central Agencies for development of tourism infrastructure in the country. Submission of project proposal by the State Government's/Union Territory Administrations and its sanctioning is a continuous process. The projects under the scheme are  identified  by  the  respective  State  Governments/UTs  &  then taken up 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 earlier.

For integrated development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits in the  country,  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  Swadesh  Darshan Scheme  in  2014-15 with  a  vision  to  develop  theme  based  tourist circuits in the country. Since its launch  in January 2015, the Ministry  as  on  date  has  sanctioned  77  projects  worth  projects  for

Rs.6035.70  Crores  to  30  States  and  UTs  covering  the  thematic circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Ministry  of  Tourism  has  sanctioned  following  two  projects under  Wildlife  Theme  Circuit  under  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme:  (i) Development  of  Wildlife  Circuit  at  Panna-Mukundpur-Sanjay-DubriBandhavgarh-Kanha-Mukki-Pench in Madhya Pradesh during 2015-16 & (ii) Development of Manas - Probitora - Nameri - Kaziranga - Dibru - Saikhowa as Wildlife Circuit in Assam during 2015-16. Since its launch in January 2015 the Ministry has sanctioned 29  projects  under  PRASHAD  Scheme  in  18  states  with  estimated expenditure of Rs. 889.54 crore from FY 2014-15 to FY 2019-20.

Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance for celebration  of fairs and festivals to  various  States  and  UTs  under the relevant guideline. Financial Assistance was provided to State Govts/UT  Administrations  under  this  scheme  for  organising  149 Fairs and Festivals between 2014-15 & 2019-20.

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