Lok Sabha Question No. 560 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Promotion to Private Sector in Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †560 ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## PROMOTION TO PRIVATE SECTOR IN TOURISM

†560 . DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK'

:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a)      the  details  of  the  foreign  tourists arriving in the country post COVID;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to make India an attractive destination for tourists; and
- (c)    the special efforts being made by the Government to promote private sector in tourism?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                        (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a): The  details  of  month-wise  Foreign  Tourist  Arrivals  (FTAs)  in India during 2020 to 2022 is placed at Annexure.
- (b): The Ministry of Tourism undertakes several promotional activities in potential international & domestic markets to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country in holistic manner. This includes release of media campaigns under 'Incredible India' brand -line, social media promotions, webinars, participation & support  to  promotional  events,  dissemination  of  information  and engagement  through  website  etc.  In  addition,  the  India  tourism overseas  offices  of  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  and  Indian  Missions overseas  also  undertake  various  promotional  activities  to  attract more global travelers to various tourist destinations of the country.

For making India attractive tourist destination, the Ministry of Tourism  has  been  working  very  closely  with  Ministry  of  Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs for easing of the Visa Regime in  the  country.  e-Visa  scheme  is  now  available  to  the  nationals of 165 countries and it is available in following five categories:

- i.    e-Tourist Visa,
- ii.   e-Business Visa,
- iii.  e-Medical Visa,
- iv.  e-Conference Visa and
- v.   e-Medical Attendant Visa

e-Visa is valid for entry through 29 designated Airports and 5 designated seaports.

Also, effective and adequate  connectivity is one of the important  aspect  for  developing  a  tourist  destination.  For  this purpose, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India has launched RCSUDAN  scheme,  whose  primary  objective  is  to  facilitate/stimulate regional air connectivity by making it affordable. Ministry of Tourism has  collaborated  with  the  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation  to  extend financial  support  in  the  form  of  Viability  Gap  Funding  (VGF)  under the  Champion Service Sector Scheme (CSSS), with the purpose of further improving connectivity to important tourist places including Iconic sites. At present, 59 Tourism RCS (T-RCS) routes have been approved by the Ministry of Tourism, out of which 51 are operational.

(c):  Tourism  is  essentially  a  multi-  sectoral  activity  requiring linkages  and  coordination  with  various  Ministries,  Departments, State Governments/UT Administrations and Private entities.

In  order  to  develop  tourism  amenities  at  heritage/natural/ tourist sites spread across India for making them tourist friendly, in a planned and phased manner, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India  has  launched  the  'Adopt  a  Heritage:  Apni  Dharohar, Apni Pehchaa n' with an aim to encourage companies from public sector, private sector, trusts, NGOs, individuals and other stakeholders to become  'Monument  Mitras' and take up the responsibility of developing and upgrading the basic and advanced tourist amenities at  these  sites  as  per  their  interest  and  viability  in  terms  of  a sustainable  investment  model  under  CSR.  They  would  also  look after the Operation & Maintenance of the same.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †560 ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023 REGARDING PROMOTION TO PRIVATE SECTOR IN TOURISM.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during 2020, 2021 and 2022

| Month           | Foreign Tourist Arrivals   | Foreign Tourist Arrivals   | Foreign Tourist Arrivals   |
|-----------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|                 | 2020                       | 2021                       | 2022 @                     |
| January         | 11,19,250                  | 94,662                     | 2,01,546                   |
| February        | 10,18,440                  | 1,10,312                   | 2,40,896                   |
| March           | 3,28,304                   | 1,33,768                   | 3,42,308                   |
| April           | 2,820                      | 78,718                     | 3,92,930                   |
| May             | 3,764                      | 19,765                     | 4,23,701                   |
| June            | 8,590                      | 36,070                     | 5,22,737                   |
| July            | 12,655                     | 72,501                     | 6,40,858                   |
| August          | 19,761                     | 92,728                     | 4,98,243                   |
| September       | 28,167                     | 1,15,661                   | 5,36,340                   |
| October         | 41,494                     | 1,91,415                   | 6,56,895                   |
| November        | 70,977                     | 2,63,867                   | 7,68,675                   |
| December        | 90,544                     | 3,17,647                   | 9,66,270                   |
| Total (Jan-Dec) | 27,44,766                  | 15,27,114                  | 61,91,399                  |

@ Provisional Source: Bureau of Immigration