Lok Sabha Question No. 3108 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Promotion of Tourism Industry through DPPH and OPMD
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Ajay Kumar Mandal, Navneet Ravi Rana, Rama Devi, Locket Chatterjee, Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Sunil Kumar Pintu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3108

## ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## PROMOTION OF TOURISM INDUSTRY THROUGH DPPH AND OPMD

†3108. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA:

SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE:

SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps being taken by the Government to promote tourism industry in Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Haryana;
- (b) the  details  of  the  works  carried  out  for  promotion  of  Maharashtra, Bihar,  West  Bengal  and  Haryana  as  tourist  places  in  domestic  and global  markets  through  Domestic  Promotion  and  Publicity  including Hospitality (DPPH) and (OPMD);
- (c) the  benefits  derived  out  of  the  said  work  and  the  amount  of  funds spent under the said schemes during the last three years;
- (d) the year-wise details of the amount of funds sanctioned released and spent under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in Maharashtra including the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  sanctioned  schemes  and  approved  projects  have  been completed; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a)  to  (f):  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  taken  several  steps/initiatives  to boost  tourism  in  the  country  including  Maharashtra,  Bihar,  West  Bengal and  Haryana  to  attract  foreign  &  domestic  tourists  as  per  details  given below:
- i.
- 24x7 toll free Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline.
- ii. 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-Conference visa for nationals of 165 countries.
- iii. E-Visa  has  been  further  liberalized  and  the  visa  fee  has  been substantially reduced.
- iv. Adopt a Heritage Project for development and maintenance of tourist amenities at heritage sites/monuments and other tourist sites.
- v. Lowering  of  GST  on  hotels  rooms  with  tariffs  of  ₹1,001  to ₹7,500/night  to  12%,  those  above  ₹7,501  to  18% to  increase India's competitiveness as a tourism destination.
- vi. On the recommendation of the Ministry of Tourism, 59 tourism routes  have  been  awarded  to  the  identified  airlines  by  the Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation  under  the  RCS  UDAN  Scheme,  for which Ministry of Tourism extends financial support in form of VGF  (Viability  Gap  Funding).  51  of  these  routes  have  been operationalized till date.

The  above  objectives  are  met  through  an  integrated  marketing  and promotional  strategy  and  a  synergized  campaign  in  association  with  the Travel  Trade,  State  Governments  and  Indian  Missions.  The  Government continuously engages with industry experts and other relevant stakeholders  and  takes  their  suggestions  and  feedback  for  promotion  of varied tourism products of India. In order to boost visitor arrival, Ministry of Tourism,  Government  of  India  has  declared  'Incredible  India!  Visit  India Year 2023'.

Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  the  tourism  destinations  and  tourism products of the country including those in Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Haryana, in a holistic manner. The promotions are carried out under the  schemes of 'Domestic Promotion and Publicity including Hosp ital ity' (DPPH)  and  'Overseas  Promotion  &  Publicity'  (OPP)  in  the  domestic  and important  global  markets.  Information  on  tourist  destinations  in the country, are also promoted through the website -www.incredibleindia.org, Dekho Apna Desh Webinars and the social media handles of the Ministry of Tourism.

Details of amount spent in last three years under the schemes Domestic Promotion and Publicity including Hospitality (DPPH) and Overseas Promotion and Publicity (OPP) is as below:-

(Rs. in Crore)

|   S. No. | Scheme/Head   |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |
|----------|---------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|        1 | DPPH          |     99.63 |     33.89 |     40    |
|        2 | OPP           |    312.04 |    108.09 |      9.42 |

The Ministry of Tourism is also promoting tourism to the country by providing financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations/Central Agencies  under  the  'Swadesh  Darshan',  'National

Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure  Development'  Schemes for  the  development  of  tourism related infrastructure and facilities to provide an enriching tourism experience to the visitors. The  year-wise  details  of  the  amount  of  funds  sanctioned  released, spent  and  Status  of  Projects  under  the  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  in Maharashtra is at ANNEXURE.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3108 ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023 REGARDING PROMOTION OF TOURISM INDUSTRY THROUGH DPPH AND OPMD

DETAILS OF PROJECTS SANCTIONED IN MAHARASHTRA UNDER SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  sanctioned  2  projects  under  its  Swadesh Darshan  scheme  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra  the  details  of  which  is  as below:-

(Rs. in Crore)

| Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                   |   Amount Sanction ed |   Amount Released |   Amount Utilised | Physical Status (%)   | Implementing Agency                              |
|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| Coastal Circuit 2015-16   | Development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit - Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg (Beach & Creek), Mitbhav |                19.06 |             18.11 |             16.45 | Complete              | Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation      |
| Spiritual Circuit 2018-19 | Development of Waki- Adasa- Dhapewada- Paradsingha- Telankhandi- Girad                                |                53.96 |             32.04 |             22.04 | 59%                   | Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority |
|                           | Total                                                                                                 |                73.02 |             50.15 |             38.49 |                       |                                                  |

The Ministry of Tourism has now revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as  'Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  (SD2.0)  with  the  objective  to  development sustainable and responsible tourism  destinations.   'Sindhudurg' has been identified  as  destination  for  development  under  SD2.0  in  the  State  of Maharashtra.

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