Lok Sabha Question No. 1318 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Financial Package to NER for Development of Historical Heritage
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Saikia Dilip

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1318 ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## FINANCIAL PACKAGE TO NER FOR DEVELOPMENT OF HISTORICAL HERITAGE

## 1318. SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK: SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the efforts being made by the Government towards encouraging  tourism along with the revival of Historical monuments;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  extend  some  financial package to the North-Eastern States along with Assam and all other States in order to develop the historical heritage in the wake of Corona pandemic; and
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Revival  of  Historical  monuments  at  the  centre  and  within States/UTs  rests  with  the  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  and  the State Governments/UTs, respectively. However, Ministry of Tourism under  its  schemes  of  Swadesh  Darshan  &  PRASHAD  provides Central  Financial  Assistance  to  the  State  Governments  /Union Territory Administrations / Central Agencies for developing tourism amenities in and around historical monuments/ natural/ tourist sites spread across India for making them tourists' friendly.

Ministry of Tourism has further launched the 'Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan'  project which is a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Survey of India and States/ Union Territory Governments for developing tourism amenities at heritage/ natural/ tourist sites spread across India for making them tourists' friendly in a planned and phased manner. Under the project, 27 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been awarded to 12 Monument Mitras for twenty-five (25) sites and two (2) Technological interventions across India.

In  addition  to  the  above,  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  undertaken several initiatives/programmes/schemes for encouraging tourism in the country, as per details given below:

- i. Identified  19  Iconic  Sites  in  the  country  for  development  by seeking convergence with other Central Ministries/Departments/State Governments /Urban Local Bodies
- ii. Promoting India as a holistic tourism destination including its various tourism sites and products through Incredible India 2.0 Campaign.
- iii. Revamp  of  Incredible  India  Website  having  information  on tourism  sites/destinations  in  different  States/Union  Territory Administrations.
- iv. Launched Buddhist website -indiathelandofbuddha.in to promote and showcase the rich Buddhist Heritage in India.

(b) & (c): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  at  present  does  not  have  any proposal  to  extend  financial  package  to  the  North-Eastern  States along  with  Assam  and  all  other  States  to  develop  the  historical heritage  in  the  wake  of  Corona  pandemic.    However,  Ministry  of Tourism has taken following steps to overcome the crisis caused by Covid-19  pandemic  in  the  tourism  sector  in  the  country  including those  in  the  North  Eastern  States  along  with  Assam  and  all  other States:

- (i) Operational  recommendations  for  hotels,  restaurants,  B&Bs/ Home-stays and Tourism Service Providers have been formulated  and  issued  on  08.06.2020  to  facilitate  smooth resumption of business.
- (ii) Validity of  approval  or  certifications  of  hotels  and  other accommodation units whose project approval / re-approval and classification  /  re-classification  have  expired  /  were  likely  to expire, has been extended up to 30 th  September 2020.
- (iii) The Ministry has developed an initiative called  SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry), for effective  implementation  of  Guidelines/SOPs issued with reference to COVID-19  and  beyond  for  safe operations of Hotels, Restaurants, B&Bs and other units.
- (iv) Recognition of Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Tourist Transport  Operators  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  been extended  automatically by six  months.  Those  who  have submitted  applications  for  recognition  by  the  Ministry  have been  given  provisional  recognition  for  six  months,  pending completion of required procedures.
- (v) The guidelines for offering financial assistance to stakeholders  under  the  Marketing  Development  Assistance (MDA) scheme are in the process of revision with the objective of enhancing the scope and reach of the Scheme.
- (vi)
- The  Ministry  has  focussed  on  domestic  tourism  through  a number  of  innovative  steps  such  as  promotion  of  products, festivals,  cuisines  etc.,  of  the  country  on  its  social  media handles. It is also organizing activities to promote the concept of  Ek  Bharat  Shrestha  Bharat.  It  has  commissioned  aerial photography of several cities during the lock down to promote these  destinations.  Similarly,  the  last  mile  connectivity  is being targeted by viability gap funding through RCS-UDAN and discussions  with  the  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways

(MoRTH)  regarding  improving  road  connectivity  to  important tourist destinations. tourist

(vii) Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  'Dekho  Apna  Desh'  webseries with a view to create awareness about destinations in the country.

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