Lok Sabha Question No. 4281 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Tourism in North-Eastern Region
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Pallab Lochan Das

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region LOK SABHA

## Unstarred Question No.4281

To be answered on

Monday, March 27, 2023/Chaitra 6, 1945 (Saka

## Question

## Tourism in North-Eastern Region

## 4281. SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS:

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  number  of  tourists  both  domestic  and  foreign  who  visited  the  NorthEastern States during the last year; and
- (b) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  create  a  barrier  free environment for growth of tourism in the North-Eastern region?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of  the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Shri G. Kishan Reddy]

- (a) As per provisional data from Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, 118.45 lakh domestic and 1.04 lakh foreign tourists visited the North Eastern States during the year 2022.
- (b) Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation  has  launched  the  Regional  Connectivity  Scheme  UDAN (UdeDesh ka Aam Nagrik) on 21.10.2016 to enhance regional air  connectivity across the country from unserved and underserved airports in the country and making air travel affordable to the masses. Airports in the North Eastern Region (NER) at Rupsi, Tezu,  Tezpur,  Pasighat,  Jorhat,  Lilabari,  Shillong,  Pakyong,  Itanagar  &  Dimapur involving 64 routes have been operationalised under the UDAN. Presently, there are 16 operational  airports  in  the  North  Eastern  Region.  Additionally,  Advanced  Landing Ground at Ziro has also been operationalized. The Ministry of Railways has informed that in the NER during the year 2021-22, 14 new line projects covering a total length of

1,181  kms  have  been  planned/sanctioned/executed  out  of  which,  361  kms  has  been commissioned. 5 doubling projects covering a length of 728 kms have been planned/sanctioned/executed out of which 48 kms has been commissioned. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken up/sanctioned national highway development works of 5137 kms in the NER. These infrastructure projects are providing essential/ critical connectivity for a barrier free environment for growth of tourism in the NER.

The  Ministry  of  Development  of  North  Eastern  Region  (MDoNER)  under  the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) supports infrastructure projects relating to water supply, power, connectivity in the tourism sector in the NER. MDoNER through the North Eastern Council (NEC) also supports tourism infrastructure development projects to promote tourism in the NER. The NEC has taken various initiatives to create a barrier free environment for growth of tourism in the NER including  holding  consultative  meetings  with  tourism  stakeholders  like  North  East Tourism  Departments,  North  East  Tour  operators  etc.  to  discuss  the  challenges  and way forward on the development of tourism sector in NER; round table discussion on developing  a  framework  for  seamless  tourist  movements  to  North  Eastern  States  of India  organized  by  Indian  Institute  of  Management  (IIM)  Shillong.  MDoNER  is  also implementing  the  Prime  Minister's  Development  Initiative  for  North  East  Region  (PMDevINE)  scheme.  The  scheme  funds  infrastructure  convergently,  in  the  spirit  of  PM GatiShakti;  supports  social  development  projects  based  on  felt  needs  of  the  NER; enable  livelihood  activities  for  youth  and  women;  and  fill  the  development  gaps  in various sectors. The scheme covers the tourism sector as well.

Government of India has taken the 'Yuva Sangam' initiative to strengthen people to  people  connect  especially  between  youth  belonging  to  NER  and  other  States  and provide  an  immersive  experience  under  five  broad  areas  -  Paryatan  (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development), Prodyogiki (Technology) and Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect).

Ministry of Tourism is implementing various schemes in the country including the NER such as the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for the integrated development of themebased  tourist  circuits  and  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  &  Spiritural,  Augmentation  Drive (PRASAD) for integrated development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations. Under  its  scheme  of  'Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  for  Tourism  Infrastructure Development' it has sanctioned viewpoints and wayside amenities in the NER.

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