Lok Sabha Question No. 1484 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-01
Subject: Promotion of Rural Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Devji Mansingram Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†1484 ANSWERED ON 01.07.2019

## PROMOTION OF RURAL TOURISM

## †1484. SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  tourism  is  necessary  for  the  rural  economy  of  the country whereas only 0.38 percentage of the rural areas are involved  in  rural  tourism  at  present  and  the  hotel  rooms  in rural areas are only 10 percent as compared to China;
- (b) whether  the  markets  of  rural  tourism  are  very  disorganized and its publicity is also not being done effectively;
- (c) if  so,  the  schemes  made  by  the  Government  to  increase  the basic  necessities  like  road  transport,  airports  and  electricity to promote rural tourism;
- (d)
- whether there is huge scarcity of capital in rural tourism; and
- (e) if so, the year-wise details of the total amount invested for the rural areas of the country including Rajasthan during the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  the  Swadesh Darshan Scheme for Integrated Development of theme-based Tourist Circuits for development of tourism infrastructure including last mile connectivity in the country.  Recognizing the potential of rural tourism in the country, the Ministry has identified Rural Circuit as one of the thematic circuits identified for development under this scheme and is aimed at leveraging tourism as a force multiplier for revitalizing  the  rural  economy  and  for  giving  both  domestic  and international tourists a glimpse of the rural aspect of the country.

The projects for development of tourism related infrastructure, including rural tourism  projects  / proposals,  are  identified for development  under  the  circuit in consultation with the State Governments  /  UTs  and  are  sanctioned  subject  to  availability  of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence of scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier.

Based  on  the  above  criteria,  the  Ministry  has  sanctioned following  projects  for  development  of  Rural  Circuits  under  the Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  which  are  under  different  stages  of implementation:

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No | State / Year of Sanction   | Name of Project                                    |   Amount Sanctioned |
|----------|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|        1 | Bihar 2017-18              | Development of Bhitiharwa - Chandrahia - Turkaulia |               44.65 |
|        2 | Kerala 2018-19             | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism      |               80.37 |

No  project  has  been  sanctioned  to  Rajasthan  under  Rural Tourism theme of the scheme.

The  objectives  of  the  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  include creating employment through active involvement of local communities and promoting community-based development and propoor tourism approach.

The Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination  including  ancient  heritage  &  culture  as  part  of  its  ongoing activities, releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns  in  the  domestic  and  international  markets,  under  the Incredible India brand-line, to promote tourism products and destinations  of  the  country  including  Rural  Tourism.   The  Ministry also  promotes  the  tourism  destinations  and  products  through  its websites and publicity and promotional material produced by it from time to time.

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