Lok Sabha Question No. 1181 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Aqua Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shardaben Anilbhai Patel, Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†1181 ANSWERED ON 25.07.2022

## AQUA TOURISM

- †1181. SHRIMATI SHARDABEN ANILBHAI PATEL:

SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI):

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  measures  to  start  Aquatourism in various States including Gujarat; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): Ministry  of  Tourism  has  recognised  Adventure  Tourism  as  a Niche Tourism Product, which inter alia includes Water Sports activities, to  promote  India  as  a  365  days  destination  and  attract  tourist  with specific interest.

To position India as a preferred destination for adventure tourism globally,  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  formulated  a  National  Strategy  for Adventure  Tourism.  Following  strategic  pillars  have  been  identified  in the strategy document for development of adventure tourism:

- (i).
- State assessment, ranking and strategy
- (ii).
- Skills, capacity building and certification
- (iii).  Marketing and promotion
- (iv). Strengthening adventure tourism safety management framework
- (v).
- National and State-level rescue and communication grid
- (vi).   Destination and Product Development
- (vii).  Governance and Institutional Framework
- A National Board for Adventure Tourism has been constituted under the Chairpersonship of Secretary (Tourism), comprising of

## ANSWER

representatives  from  identified  Central  Ministries/  organizations,  State Governments/UT  Administrations  and  Industry  Stakeholders,  with  the objective  of  operationalization  and  implementation  of  the  strategy  to promote and develop adventure tourism in the Country covering:

- (i) Detailed action plan and formulation of dedicated scheme
- (ii) Certification Scheme
- (iii) Safety guidelines
- (iv) Capacity  building,  replication  of  national  and  global  best practices
- (v) Assessment of state policies and ranking
- (vi) Marketing and promotion
- (vii) Destination and product development
- (viii)  Private sector participation
- (ix) Specific strategies for adventure tourism
- (x) Any  other  measures  for  growth  of  adventure  tourism  in  the country.

In  addition,  Coastal  Circuit  was  identified  as  one  of  the  thematic circuits  under  the  Scheme  of  Swadesh  Darshan  for  providing  financial assistance to States/UT Administrations for infrastructure development. The  details  of  projects  sanctioned  in  different  States  under  Coastal Circuit theme of the scheme are at Annexure.

Apart from the above, Ministry of Tourism, through National Institute for Water Sports (NIWS), Goa, provides training to water sports operators  through  various  skill  developing  courses  and  certify  the trainees.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.†1181  ANSWERED  ON  25.07.2022  REGARDING  AQUA TOURISM.

Details  of  project  sanctioned  under  the  Coastal  Circuit  of  Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the country

(Amount in Crore)

|   S. No. | Name of State   | Year of sanction   | Project Name                                                                                                                     |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |
|----------|-----------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh  | (2014-15)          | Development of Kakinada - Hope Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi - Aduru - S Yanam - Kotipally                  |               67.84 |             67.84 |
|        2 | Andhra Pradesh  | (2015-16)          | Development of Nellore - Pulikat Lake - Ubblamadugu Water Falls - Nelapattu- Kothakoduru- Mypadu - Ramateertham - Iskapalli      |               49.55 |             47.76 |
|        3 | Puducherry      | (2015-16)          | Development of Dubrayapet - Arikamedu - Veerampattinam - Chunnambar - Nallavadu/Narambai - Manapet- Kalapet - Puducherry - Yanam |               58.44 |             61.82 |
|        4 | West Bengal     | (2015-16)          | Development of Beach Circuit: Udaipur- Digha- Shankarpur- Tajpur- Mandarmani- Fraserganj-                                        |               67.99 |             68.31 |

|     |                           |           | Bakkhlai- Henry Island                                                                                 |        |        |
|-----|---------------------------|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|
| 5.  | Maharashtra               | (2015-16) | Development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit - Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg (Beach & Creek), Mitbhav  |  19.06 |  18.11 |
| 6.  | Goa                       | (2016-17) | Development of Sinquerim-Baga, Anjuna-Vagator, Morjim-Keri, Aguada Fort and Aguada Jail                |  97.65 |  92.76 |
| 7.  | Odisha                    | (2016-17) | Development of Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara                                                  |  70.82 |  63.56 |
| 8.  | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | (2016-17) | Development of Long Island-Ross Smith Island- Neil Island- Havelock Island- Baratang Island-Port Blair |  27.57 |  20.89 |
| 9.  | Tamil Nadu                | (2016-17) | Development of (Chennai- Mamamallapuram - Rameshwaram - Manpadu - Kanyakumari)                         |  73.13 |  69.48 |
| 10. | Goa                       | (2017-18) | Development of Coastal Circuit II: Rua De Orum Creek - Dona Paula -Colva - Benaulim                    |  99.35 |  94.38 |
|     |                           |           | Total                                                                                                  | 631.4  | 604.91 |

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