Lok Sabha Question No. 3073 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Revenue Generated from Religious Centres
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: P. C. Mohan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3073 ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## REVENUE GENERATED FROM RELIGIOUS CENTRES

## 3073. SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  has  been  a  substantive  impact  on  religious tourism  in  India  due  to  the  Government's  push  to  develop religious centres;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  religious  centres more inviting and hospitable; and
- (d) the revenue generated through these religious centres during the last five years, year-wise?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                            (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): No  separate  study on  'substantive  impact  on  religious tourism in India' has been instituted by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. However, Foreign Tourists Visits and Domestic Tourists Visits for the last 5 years is as follows:

| Parameter   |   Number of Domestic Tourist Visits (million) | Growth Rate (in %)   |   Number of Foreign Tourist Visits (million) | Growth Rate (in %)   |
|-------------|-----------------------------------------------|----------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------|
| 2017        |                                       1657.6  | 2.61%                |                                        26.9  | 8.79%                |
| 2018        |                                       1854.9  | 11.84%               |                                        28.9  | 7.31%                |
| 2019        |                                       2321.98 | 25.26%               |                                        31.4  | 8.86%                |
| 2020        |                                        610.22 | -73.72%              |                                         7.17 | -77.17%              |
| 2021        |                                        677.63 | 11.05%               |                                         1.05 | -85.29%              |
| 2022(P)     |                                       1433.92 | 111.61%              |                                         6.4  | 509.52%              |

P: Provisional

(c): Development  of  tourism  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration, however, Ministry of Tourism  under  its scheme  viz. National Mission on Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive (PRASHAD) provides Financial Assistance to the State Governments/Union Territories for creation of pilgrimage and/or heritage tourism infrastructure at the pre-identified destinations across the country. Ministry of Tourism has approved a total number of 45 projects in the country under PRASHAD Scheme for an amount of Rs.1586.10 Crore so far.

(d):  Ministry  of  Tourism  does  not  maintain  the  revenue  generated through  religious  centres.  However,  Foreign  Exchange  Earnings  for the last 5 years is as follows:

| Year   | Rs. Crore    | % Change   |
|--------|--------------|------------|
| 2018   | 1,94,881 9.6 |            |
| 2019   | 2,11,661     | 8.6        |
| 2020   | 50,136       | -76.3      |
| 2021   | 65,070       | 29.8       |
| 2022 * | 1,34,543     | 106.8      |

'* : Provisional estimates

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