Lok Sabha Question No. 3521 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-08
Subject: Facilities to Foreigners
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Jaisiddeshwar Shivacharya Mahaswamiji, Sanganna Amarappa Karadi, Umesh G. Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3521 ANSWERED ON 08.08.2022

## FACILITIES TO FOREIGNERS

## 3521.SHRI SHA.BRA.DR. JAI SIDDESHWAR SHIVACHARYA

MAHASWAMIJI:

SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry has detailed record maintained regarding the number of foreigners visiting on a tourist visa;
- (b) whether there have been instances of tourists willing to settle down  in  India  from  the  western  countries  apart  from  those priests who have come to spread the gospel;
- (c) whether the Government is willing to float a tour programme for the touring foreigners on lines with the tour programmes for the citizens of this country announced  by  certain  State Governments and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  formulate  any scheme  for  the  visiting  foreigners  in  the  interest  of  tourism development and facilitation of tourism for foreigners; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                        (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a): Yes, Sir.
- (b): Ministry of Tourism does not maintain data regarding tourists willing to settle down in India.
- (c), (d) & (e): Ministry  of  Tourism  under  its  Hospitality  Scheme effectively project India as an attractive multi- dimensional tourist

destination offering a vast range of attractions. The invited guests get first-hand information/knowledge of the Indian tourism product and facilities during their familiarization tours under the hospitality programme  of  the  Ministry  of  Tourism.  Hospitality  is  normally extended  to  overseas  Travel  Writers,  Journalists,  Photographers, Film/TV Teams, Travel agents and Tour Operators, Agencies promoting Incentive/Convention Travel, Opinion Makers/Dignitaries/ Celebrities/Speakers  and  Door  Prize/Contest  Winners.  During  the period January-December  2020,  guests were  invited to cover important events in India, including 5th Statehood Day International Women's Polo Tournament held in Manipur, SATTE (Noida), Outbound Travel Mart (Mumbai) etc.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism,  through  its  India  Tourism  Offices Overseas along with Indian Missions abroad endeavours to position India  as  a  preferred  tourism  destination  in  the  tourism  generating markets  to  promote  various  tourism  products  and  destinations including North Eastern Region and to increase India's share in the global tourism market. The objectives are met through an integrated marketing and promotional strategy, global media campaign and a synergized  promotional  measure  in  association  with  the  Travel trade,  State  Governments  and  Indian  Missions  overseas.  On  the request  of  Ministry  of  Tourism,  Minister  of  External  affairs  has designated Tourism Officers in the Indian Missions of top 20 source markets in October, 2021.

Ministry of Tourism has conducted virtual Road showsIncredible  India  Reconnect  2022   to  project  India  as  a  preferred tourism  destination  in  the  tourism  generating  markets. Ministry  of Tourism  has  conducted  successfully  various  virtual  roadshows  in Oman, USA, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Spain and UK in April - May 2022.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  the  Marketing  Development Assistance (MDA) Programme extends financial support to approved Tourism Service Providers and State Governments/UT Administrations for undertaking tourism promotion in the overseas markets.

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