Lok Sabha Question No. 412 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-24
Subject: Promotion of Spiritual-Cultural-Eco Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.412 ANSWERED ON 24.06.2019

## PROMOTION OF SPIRITUAL-CULTURAL-ECO TOURISM

## 412.  SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any statistics on the number of foreign  tourists  visited  the  country  in  the  last  financial  year and forex earned through it;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the actions taken by the Government to promote spiritual-cultural-eco tourism in the country;
- whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  any  measure  to promote  cultural-spiritual-eco  tourism  putting  a  place  like Thrissur  as  a  centre,  which  is  considered  as  the  cultural
- (d) capital of Kerala; and
- (e) whether the Government has identified any potential sites for developing  spiritual  circuit  tourism  in  Kerala  and  if  so,  the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and (b): The number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals and estimated  Foreign  Exchange  Earnings  during  the  financial  year 2018-19  were  1,06,06,049  (provisional)  and  US  $  27.776  billion respectively.
- (c) to (e): Development and promotion of tourist places is primarily the responsibility of concerned State Government/UT Administration.  However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of India  promotes  India  as  a  holistic  destination  covering  its  various

tourism  destinations  and  products  across  different  States/Union Territories  in  the  country.  The  Ministry  as  part  of  its  on-going activities,  annually  releases  print,  electronic,  online  and  outdoor media campaigns in the international and domestic markets, under tourism destinations  and  products  of  various  interests  including  those  for the Incredible India brand-line, to promote various spiritual, cultural and eco tourism.

For  creation  of  tourism  infrastructure  in  the  country,  the Ministry has two flagship schemes viz. Swadesh Darshan -Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits and PRASHADPilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive. The projects including those for Spiritual circuit sanctioned under these schemes for the State of Kerala are given in the Annexure.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (c)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.412 ANSWERED ON 24.06.2019 REGARDING PROMOTION OF SPIRITUAL-CULTURAL-ECO TOURISM

- A. Projects  sanctioned  to  the  State  of  Kerala  under  Swadesh Darshan Scheme
- B. Projects  sanctioned  to  the  State  of  Kerala  under  PRASHAD Scheme

| Name of the Circuit/ Sanction year   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                             |
|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Eco Tourism Circuit 2015-16          | Development in Pathanamthitta - Gavi - Vagamon - Thekkady                                                                                                       |
| Spiritual Circuit 2016-17            | Development in Sabarimala - Erumeli-Pampa- Sannidhanam                                                                                                          |
| Spiritual Circuit 2016-17            | Development in Sree Padmanabha Aranmula Sabarimala                                                                                                              |
| Rural Circuit 2018-19                | Development of: Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism                                                                                                                  |
| Spiritual Circuit 2018-19            | Development Sivagiri Sree Narayana Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara Sree Subrahmania- Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam                                 |
| Spiritual Circuit 2018-19            | Development of Kasaragod, Wayanad, Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Malapuram, Thrichur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Allaphuza, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Trivandrum |

| Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project             |
|--------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2016-17            | Development at Guruvayur Temple |

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