Lok Sabha Question No. 185 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-18
Subject: Ranking in Tourism Competitiveness Index
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Rebati Tripura, Sandhya Ray, Vijay Kumar Dubey, Dhanush M Kumar, Ganesan Selvam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.185 ANSWERED ON 18.11.2019

## RANKING IN TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS INDEX

## 185.  SHRI REBATI TRIPURA:

SHRIMATI SANDHYA RAY: SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY: SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR: SHRI SELVAM G.:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India's ranking in Travel & Tourism competitiveness Index  2013  of  the  World  Economic  Forum  has  improved tremendously during the last five years;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reaction  of  the  Government thereto;
- (c) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  India's tourism competitiveness, particularly regarding infrastructure and restrictive visa policy;
- (d)
- the success achieved by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government to promote tourism sector  in  the  country  especially  in  Madhya  Pradesh,  Uttar Pradesh and Tripura?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. India's Travel & Tourism competitiveness Index ranking since 2013 has improved. The details are as follows:

| Year   |   2013 |   2015 |   2017 |   2019 |
|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Rank   |     65 |     52 |     40 |     34 |

Improvement in India's ranking in Travel & Tourism competitiveness Index is an encouragement for tourism sector in the country.

(c): Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India  has  taken  several steps for creation of tourism infrastructure in the country so as to attract more tourists, which inter-alia include:

- i. Launch of two flagship schemes: Swadesh Darshan -Integrated  Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits and PRASHAD-  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual,  Heritage Augmentation  Drive.  The  projects  under  these  schemes  are identified  for  development  in  consultation  with  the  State Governments/UT  Administrations  and  are  sanctioned  subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports,  adherence  to  scheme  guidelines  and  utilization  of funds released earlier.
- ii. Pursuant  to  the  Budget  Announcements  of  2018-19,  this Ministry has identified 17 sites in 12 clusters in the country for development as Iconic Tourist Sites.
- iii. The  'Adopt  A  Heritage:  Apni  Dharohar,  Apni  Pehchaan',  a collaborative effort by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), State/UTs Governments, envisages developing heritage sites and making them tourist friendly, to enhance tourism potential and cultural importance in a planned and phased manner.
- iv. Ministry  provides  Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  for  the development of tourism related infrastructure in the country.

Further,  Ministry  of  Tourism  regularly  coordinates  with  Ministry  of Home Affairs and as a result Ministry of Home Affairs has relaxed the  Protected  Area  Permit(PAP)/Restricted  Area  Permit(RAP)  for  a period  of  5  Years  i.e.  till  31.12.2022  in  the  states  of  Manipur,

Mizoram  and  Nagaland  and  for  29  Islands  of  Union  Territory  of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

(d): As a result of various measures taken by the stakeholders, the tourist  visits  in  the  country  have  increased  in  the  recent  years, details of which are given below:

|                                  |   2016 |   2017 |   2018 (Revised) |
|----------------------------------|--------|--------|------------------|
| Domestic Tourist Visits(Million) | 1615.4 | 1657.6 |           1854.9 |
| Foreign Tourist Visits(Million)  |   24.7 |   26.9 |             28.9 |

(e): Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  India  as  a  holistic  destination and  as  part  of  its  on-going  activities  to  promote  various  tourism destinations and products in the different States and Union Territories  of  the  country including  the  State  of  Madhya  Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura. In addition to advertisement, 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  the  different States/UTs.

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