Lok Sabha Question No. 121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-29
Subject: Identification of Tourist Spots in North Eastern States
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Rebati Tripura

## MINISTER OF TOURISM

(sHRr G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a):  The Ministry of rourism promotes rndia as a horistic tourasm destination  including the various tourism sites and products  of every state/Union Territory of the country in the domestic  and international markets. Additionarry,  the Ministry of rourism has taken fo owing initiatives to  promote/revive  foreign and domestic  tourism in  the cou ntry:

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO.1 21

## ANSWERED ON 29.1 1.202'l

## IDENTIFICATION  OF TOURIST SPOTS IN NORTH EASTERN STATES

## 121. Shri Rebati Tripura :

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- a)  the steps taken by the Government to revive foreign and domestic tourism in the country;
- b)  whether the Government has identified any tourist spots for promoting tourism in North-Eastern  States especially  Tripura and if so, the detaits thereof;
- c)  whether the Government has formulated any special scheme to
4. promote tourism in North-Eastern part of the country; and
- d)  the other steps taken by the government to boost tourism sector in the country?

## ANSWER

- i. Market Development Assistance (MDA) Guidelines for promotion  of lndia as a tourism destination  in the overseas markets and Market Development  Assistance (MOA) Guidetines lor  promotion of domestic tourism have been revised to increase the scope and reach of these guidelines  to  benefit larger number of tourism stakeho lders.
- ii.  The Ministry of  Tourism had launched the Dekho Apna Desh initiative,  which is being promoted  extensively  on social media accounts and website of the Ministry and by Domestic lndia Tourism Offices, Under this initiative Minastry has been organizing webinars, quiz, pledge, discussions,  road shows to keep connected with the stake'holders and to encourage citizens to travel within the country. More than IOO Webinars under the Dekho Apna Desh brand Iine have been organized by the Ministry, since its launch.
- iii. The Ministry of Tourism organizes various activities like road shows, Fam trips, B2B Meetings, Quiz programmes,  webinars
4. between paired States/UTs to promote Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat.
- iv. Promotional  campaigns  are carried out on sociat media handles of
6. the  Ministry and  Domestic Offices promoting  destinations, products, festivals,  cuisines  etc. of the country.
- v.  The Ministry  of Tourism organizes  Bharat Parv and  paryatan parv
8. in collaboration  with the States/ UTs and other Central Ministries / Departments  for last four years to showcase the rich culture, history, heritage to the citizens. The objective of these events is to draw focus on the benefits of Tourism and reinforcing the principle of tourism  for all.
- vi. To create awareness among the masses the Ministry celebrates special events / days with citizen,s participation  like lnternational Day of Yoga, World Tourism Day, Gonstitution  Day, lndependence day, commemoration oi  125 years of  Birth of  Netaji Subhas Ghandra Bose, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and other regional festiva Is.
- vii. The Ministry of rourism and the Regional offices are regularry communicating with the Travel lndustry and other stakeholders on issues related to opening up of tourism sector, handling of tourists, protocols of  safety and security, service standards etc. The Ministry has also been coordinating with the Stakeholders  and states/UTs for promoting itineraries  to nearby destinations from the major cities.
- viii.  Ministry  of rourism organized  'rrapping  the Tourism  potential  of Kashmir:  Another day in Paradise" event at Srinagar, Kashmir from 1'tth-l3th April  20.21 to  showcase  Jammu &  Kashmir as  a destination for Heritage, Golf, Cuisine, Adventure,  Wedding,  etc. Similarly, the Ministry of Tourism organised a mega tourism event at Leh, Ladakh titled:  t.Ladakh:  New Start, New Goals,' from 26th2SthAugust 2O2{ to  promote  tourism to  Ladakh as a  tourist destination with focus on aspects of  adventure, culture and responsible tourism.
- ix. The Ministry of Tourism  in co aboration  with IRCTC organized  a Buddhist Circuit Fam Tour and Gonference from 4th-  grhOctober 2O21 at  Bodhgaya  and Varanasi. The event was attended by approx.200 delegates which included tour operators from other parts of the country, local tour operators  and other stakehotders  of tourism sector media, officials of Ministry of Tourism. During the event Ministry also organized an interactive session with students of Nalanda  University and BHU.
- x.  On the occasion of the inauguration of the Kushinagar  Airport by the Hon'ble Prime Minister, Ministry of Tourism organized a twoday conference on  .Tourism  in Buddhist Circuits  \_  A way forward, in Kushinagar highrighting Buddhist Gircuit and its potentiar to draw Buddhist pilgrims and scholars around the world.
- xi. The Ministry of rourism organized a Gonference  of rourism and Gulture Ministers of southern  Region on 2gth & 2gth october 2o21 at Bengaluru with the objective  to discuss development  of tourism sector and culture related issues in the Region. The conference

was attended by the Tourism and Gulture Ministers of Southern Region, Officials  from  various  Gentral  Ministries, State Governments, Union Territory Administrations  (UTs), Media and industry  stakeholders. The two days'  conference  had presentations  by various Central Ministries,  State Govts/UTs. An interactive  session was also held with the local stakeholders  to discuss their issues and requirements  for promotion  of tourism.

(b) & (c):  Ministry of Tourism promotes all tourist spots in the country including  North Eastern  States through its media campaigns, websites, road shows, social media promotions and Dekho Apna Desh initiative to attract more tourists. Ministry of Tourism  also organized a meeting of the Tourism & Culture Ministers of the North Eastern States on {3th& 14th September 2O21at Guwahati, Assam to discuss development of tourism  and connectivity related issues in the North Eastern Region.

Ministry of Tourism is organizing lnternational  Tourism Mart 2O21 held at Kohima, Nagaland lrolm 27thto 2gthNovember 20.21 to showcase the tourasm potential of North Eastern States of lndia at the international level.

Ministry  of Tourism organized the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav  Yyebinar Series atong-with Association  of Universities  (AlU) under Dekho Apna Desh, The webanar series basically targeted for involving  students from different universities.  The said episode was based on NorthEastern States and the main emphasis was given to the state of Tripura.  The important  tourist potential like historical  tourism, ecotourism, cultural tourism, ethnic tourism, wildlife tourism, community based tourism and rural tourism nature were touched. The tourist destinations of  Tripura those were covered in the session were Unakoti, Chabimura, Jamtui Hills, Naradpara  Lake, Neer Mahal, RudraSagar Lake, Dumbur Lake, Agartala, etc.

ln  addition, Ministry of  Tourism is  also focussing on the development of tourism related infrastructure  under its schemes of Swadesh Darshan and National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) which were launched  in January 2O{ 5.  'North  East Gircuit, has been identified as one of the themes for development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

- (d):  The Ministry of Tourism has taken other steps/initiatives to boost tourism in the country as per details given below:
- i. Development and maintenance  of tourist amenities at heritage sites/monuments and other tourist sites under the Adopt a Heritage Project.
- ia. 24xZ toll free Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline to assist tourists.
- iii. Providing facility of e-Visa for 5 sub-categories i.e. e-Tourist visa, e-Business visa, e-Medical visa, e-Medical Attendant visa and e-
- Gonference visa for nationals  of 156 countries.
- iv. lncredible India Tourist Facilitator  Programme, a Pan-lndia digital initiative to provide basic, advanced! spoken foreign language and refresher  courses for creating a  pool of  trained and certified tourist facilitators which would help in  creating employment opportunities at the local level.
- v.  Gonducting Programmes under the  rGapacity  Building for Service
- Providers' (CBSP) Scheme to train and up-grade manpower to provide better service standards.
- vi. On the recommendation  of the Ministry of Tourism, 46 tourism routes have been awarded to the identified airlines by Ministry of Civil Aviation under the RCS UDAN Scheme. 29 of these routes have been operationalized  till date,
- vii. National lntegrated  Database  of Hospitality  lndustry (NlDHl)  portal to create a comprehensive national database of accommodation units in the country  to be used for promotion and development  of tou rism.

viii. system for Assessment,  Awareness and rraining for Hospitality lndustry (SAATHI) launched in association  with the euality Council of lndia, to sensitaze the industry on the COVID regulations of the government  and instil confidence amongst  the staff and guests that the hospitality  unit has exhibited intent towards ensuring safety and hygiene at the workplace.

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