Lok Sabha Question No. 706 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Upgradation of Major Tourist Places
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.706 ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## UPGRADATION OF MAJOR TOURIST PLACES

## 706.  SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to upgrade all major tourist places  with  the  new  technology  for  the  convenience  of  the tourists;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  make tourist places more attractive;
- (d) the  number  of  domestic  and  foreign  tourist  visits  in  the country  during  the  years  2018  and  2022,  especially  for  the State of UP;
- (e) whether the Government has signed MoUs with other countries  to  make  major  tourist  places  especially  UNESCO heritage sites at par with the international standard; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

- (a) & (b): Yes,  Sir.  The  illustrative/indicative  list  of  components admissible  under  its  schemes  of  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0,  PRASHAD and  Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  for  Tourism  Infrastructure Development Schemes is at Annexure-I.
- (c): The Ministry of Tourism has taken several steps over the years to provide a better experience for tourists and to make the tourist destinations more attractive as per details given below:
- i. Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  for  the  development  of  tourism related infrastructure in the country.
- ii. National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme for integrated development of identified pilgrimage destinations.
- iii. Adopt a Heritage Project for development and maintenance of tourist amenities at heritage sites/monuments and other tourist sites.
- iv. 24x7 toll free Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline.
- v. 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 156 countries.
- vi. E-Visa has been further liberalized and the visa fee has been substantially reduced.
- vii. Conducting  Programmes  under  the  'Capacity  Building for Service Providers' (CBSP)  Scheme  to  train  and  up -grade manpower to provide better service standards.
- viii. New mountain peaks have been opened for Mountaineering/Trekking to give boost to adventure tourism in the country.
- ix. 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.
- x. 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.

## (d): Domestic  and  Foreign  Tourist  Visits  in  India  during  2018  to 2021 are given below:

| Year   | Tourist Visits   | Tourist Visits   |
|--------|------------------|------------------|
|        | Domestic         | Foreign          |
| 2018   | 1853787719       | 28851130         |
| 2019   | 2321982663       | 31408666         |
| 2020   | 610216157        | 7171769          |
| 2021   | 677632981        | 1054642          |

Domestic  and  Foreign  Tourist  Visits  in  Uttar  Pradesh  during 2018 to 2021 and till October 2022 are given below:

| Year                  | Tourist Visits   | Tourist Visits   |
|-----------------------|------------------|------------------|
|                       | Domestic         | Foreign          |
| 2018                  | 285079848        | 3780752          |
| 2019                  | 535855162        | 4745181          |
| 2020                  | 86122293         | 890932           |
| 2021                  | 109708435        | 44737            |
| Till October 2022 (P) | 171371128        | 232485           |

P: Provisional

Source: Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department

(e) & (f): The  Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India  signs Agreements/Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoUs)  with  various countries  for  strengthening  tourism  cooperation  and  promoting tourism products of India in other countries. The important components of such Agreements/MoUs include the following:

- i) Exchange of information and data related to tourism.
2. ii) Cooperation between tourism stakeholders including hotels & Tour operators.
3. iii) Exchange of visits of Tour Operators/Media/Opinion Makers for promotion of two-way tourism.
4. iv) Exchange  programmes  for  cooperation  in  Human  Resource Development.
- v) Investment in the Tourism and Hospitality sector.
6. vi) Exchange of experience in the areas of promotion, marketing, destination development and management.
7. vii) Participation in travel fairs/ex hibitions in each other's country.

The  details  of  MoUs/Agreements/Letter  of  Intent  (LoI)  signed with various countries for bilateral  and multilateral cooperation in the field of Tourism may be seen at Annexure-II.

******

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  AND  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.706 ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022 REGARDING UPGRADATION OF MAJOR TOURIST PLACES.

## SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME 2.0

## i. Tourism Core Products

- (a) Constructions of Tourist Facilitation Centre, Tourist Interpretation Centre with ATMs/money exchange counters
- (b) Restoration,  conservation,  illumination  of  monuments/ heritage structures
- (c) Construction  of  craft  haats,  bazaars,  souvenir  shops,
- cafeteria etc.
- (d) Construction of nature trails, watchtowers, rain shelters
- and allied infrastructure
- (e) Accommodation  and  stay  facilities  such  as  log  huts, tourist lodges, tented accommodation, eco-retreats, etc.

## ii. Tourism Activities

- (a) Construction of Convention Centers/Golf Course/ Aquamarine Parks/Amusement Parks/Theme Parks
- promote  Adventure/Golf/
- (b) Construction of facilities to Cruise/ Rural/ Mice and other such tourism activities
- (c)
- Provision of equipment for above tourism activities

## iii. Performing Art Infra

- (a) Construction of Open-Air theatres or amphi-theaters
- (b)
- (c)
- Constructions of Cultural Centres
- Setting up of Sound & Light Show

## iv. Health, Sanitation and Safety

- (a)
- (b)
- Toilets
- Solid Waste Management
- (c) First Aid Centre (including Indian Medicines System)
- (d)
- CCTV
- v. Connectivity, Wayside Amenities & Parking

## vi.

## vii.

- (a) Development/upgradation of passenger terminals for road, rail or water transport providing toilets, cloakroom facilities and waiting rooms
- (b) Procurement  of  equipment  for  eco-friendly  modes  of tourist transport
- (c) Improvement of  road  (last  mile)  connectivity  leading  to
- tourist sites/ destinations
- (d) Development/ upgradation of helipads, heliports, airstrips,  ropeways  required  for  tourist  in  the  identified circuits
- (e) Parking facilities for two-wheelers, cars, buses, caravan vehicles
- (f) Wayside  amenities  with  emergency  vehicle  breakdown, repair and refuel facilities
- (g)
- Informatory / directional signages
- (h) Improvement in communication through telephone booths, mobile services and internet connectivity

## General Site Development

- (a) General improvements such as earth filling, landscaping (including trees, shrubs), water fountains, fencing, lighting, pavements/  walkways/  pathways/  driveways, seating facilities/shelters, drinking water points, garbage bins, stormwater drainage, treatment facilities for sewerage / effluent
- (b) External infrastructure such as water supply, sewerage, drainage, electricity, and roads
- (c) Shoreline  development  &  rejuvenation  of  natural  water bodies such as rivers, lakes, streams, riverfronts.
- (d)
- (e)
- Slum upgradation
- Wi-Fi

## Sustainable Tourism

- (a) Use of clean energy sources for street lighting
- (b) Renewable sources of energy for tourist infrastructure
- (c) Environmental care and access to clean technology
- (d) All structures developed should be universally accessible (disabled friendly)

## viii. Soft Intervention

- (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (e)
- Asset Mapping
- Promotion & Marketing
- Capacity Building
- Skill Development
- Knowledge Management
- (f)
- Digital Technologies and Platforms

## PRASHAD SCHEME

## Infrastructure Development

- Toilet,  cloak  room  facilities  and  waiting  rooms  at  prominent destination points and if necessary at city entry points like bus stands, railway stations etc.
- Informatory/Directional  signage  (if  possible  these  could  be funded by the private sector). Guidelines should be formulated in the DPR toolkit to maintain design uniformity and enhancing aesthetics.
- Development/up-gradation of destination entry points viz. passenger terminals (of road, rail, and water transport). Basic conveniences  like  tourism  Information/Interpretation  Centers with  ATMs/money  exchange  counters  shall  be  provided  at these entry points.
- ·
- Illumination of monuments/ pilgrimage structures.
- Provision of wayside amenities with emergency vehicle breakdown,  repair  facilities  and  infrastructure  provision  for stationing  of  caravan  vehicles  for  tourists.  The  area  and capacity shall be worked out as per the daily average footfall of the tourists to respective destinations.
- Parking facilities for two-wheelers, cars, buses and caravans.
- Improvement of road connectivity leading to prime destinations up to the last mile connectivity only.
- General  improvements  such  as  landscaping  (includes  trees and shrubs), water fountains, fencing, lighting, pavements/walkways/pathways/driveways, seating facilities/shelters,  drinking  water  points,  garbage  bins,  storm water drainage and treatment facilities for  sewerage/effluent treatment  are  permissible  within  the  pilgrimage  footprint  of the destination.
- First Aid Centers (Including Indian Medicines System).
- Improvement  in  communication  through  telephone  booths, mobile services and internet connectivity, Wi-Fi hotspots.
- Construction  of  watch  tower  (for  surveillance  and  security purpose), rain shelters (for pilgrims)
- Equipment  for  tourism  activities  such  as  sound  and  light shows  to  enhance  the  spiritual/heritage  experience  of  the identified destinations
- Construction of open air theatres and amphitheaters
- Construction of craft haats /bazaars/ souvenir shops/cafeteria.
- Procurement  of  equipment  for  eco-friendly  modes  of  tourist transport  which  should  be  plied  on  last  mile  connectivity  to the  prime  assets  and  on  pedestrianized  roads  to  facilitate movement  of  old  age,  differently  abled  people  and  children (below 8 year)
- Shoreline development & rejuvenation of natural water bodies such as rivers, lakes, streams and river fronts of holy/ historic significance and shall be considered in consultation with M/o tourism and other allied ministries.
- Helipad, ropeways required for tourist in the identified destinations where other transportation connectivity is weak.
- Use  of  renewable  sources  of  energy  and  access  to  clean technology for tourist infrastructure for environmental care.
- External infrastructure such as water supply, sewerage, drainage, electricity and roads.
- Any other activity directly related to tourism and required for development of the identified pilgrimage sites/ destinations or integrated tourism development of heritage city.

In addition to the above, following infrastructure components would be permissible only for integrated tourism development of heritage city:

- Evaluation  and  up-gradation  of  civic  infrastructure  around heritage/cultural/tourist areas and façade improvement  of surrounding areas with part funding mechanism to be worked out in discussion with local governments.
- Development  of  Heritage  walks,  street-scaping  activities  not limited  to  underground  cabling,  street  furniture,  storm  water drainage and walkways/pathways.
- Support  cultural  events,  fairs  and  festivals  and  associated
- infrastructure.
- Development  of  museums,  interpretation  centers  and  sociocultural spaces.
- Restoration/ conservation of a historic structure/monument
- Revitalization  of  heritage  areas/precincts  &  conservation  of
- monuments etc.
- Adaptive re-use plans for eligible structures
- ·

Capacity Development, Skill Development & Knowledge Management

- Special  courses  to  address  the  skill  gaps  identified  by  the state in the Detailed Project Report (DPR)
- Short duration skill development training program in
- association with other schemes of GOI.
- Emphasis  on  tapping  the  local  potential  and  expertise  in indigenous art and crafts.
- Documentation  and  preservation  of  the  knowledge  base  in tourism for future use.

## Online Presence

- A. GIS based interactive and intelligent portal development and mobile applications, providing:
- Location based-services
- Location based-contents
4. ·
5. Booking facilities through a-Commerce application
- Linkages to applications of existing service providers
- Support dash-boards for tourists as well as operators
- Decision support reporting for the department
- B. Project Monitoring and Management System
- Online  Dashboard  for  project  monitoring  and  management system
- Tracking project progress through online UC submissions
12. ·
13. Tracking procurements through e-procurement system
14. ·
15. ·
16. Tracking completion of milestones
17. Tracking issues relating to escalation and variances.

## Permission Based Knowledge Portal

- Create a back-end digital library for content preservation.
- C.
- Push  relevant  research  papers  to  appropriate  institutions
- for future references.

## D.

## Data Analytics and Reporting

## IEC Component

- 10% of the scheme allocation is earmarked for IEC components

## ASSISTANCE TO CENTRAL AGENCIES FOR TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

- a. Improvement  of  the  surroundings  of  the  destination.  This would  include  activities  like  landscaping,  development  of parks, fencing, compound wall etc.
- b. Illumination of the Tourist destination and the area around and SEL/multimedia/ multidimensional Shows etc. including setting up  of  civic  amenities  such  as  toilets/  rest  rooms,  ticket counter,  food  courts,  facilities  for  differently  abled  people/ children  /  senior  citizens/  at  site  of  project,  battery  operated carts etc including publicity material as may be required.
- c. Re-conceptualization /up-gradation of existing SEL / multimedia  shows  commensurate  with  the  requirement  of Technological Innovative show can also be considered under this scheme after a five year of initial launch of project.
- d. Construction  of  public  buildings  which  are  required  to  be demolished because of implementation of the Master Plan.
- e. Illumination/Restoration/Refurbishment of the Monuments.
- f. Signage  and  display  boards  showing  Tourist  Area  Maps  and documentation on places of interest at the locations.
- g. Tourist Arrival Centers, Reception Centers, Interpretation Centers
8. h.
9. Development of Cruise Terminals.
- i. Construction of Convention Centres

*****

ANNEXURE-II

STATEMENT  IN REPLY TO PARTS (e) AND (f) OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.706 ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022 REGARDING UPGRADATION OF MAJOR TOURIST PLACES.

Agreements/Memorandum  of  Understanding/LoI  Signed  with foreign countries by the Ministry of Tourism

|   Sl. No | Name of the country with whom MoU/ Agreement/ Protocols singed   | MoU/ Agreement/ LoI   | Date of signature   | Valid Till            | Status   |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|----------|
|        1 | Iraq                                                             | Protocol              | 25.10.1986          | 5+5 years period each | Valid    |
|        2 | Portugal                                                         | Agreement             | 29.07.1991          | 5+5 year periods      | Valid    |
|        3 | Syria                                                            | Agreement             | 08.10.1991          | 5+5 year periods      | Valid    |
|        4 | Israel                                                           | Agreement             | 18.05.1993          | 5+5 year periods      | Valid    |
|        5 | Singapore                                                        | Agreement             | 24.01.1994          | 5+5 year periods      | Valid    |
|        6 | Russia                                                           | Agreement             | 30.06.1994          | 5+5 year periods      | Valid    |
|        7 | Iran                                                             | MoU                   | 18.04.1995          | No validity clause    | Valid    |
|        8 | Mexico                                                           | Agreement             | 28.03.1996          | 5+5 year periods      | Valid    |
|        9 | Cyprus                                                           | Agreement             | 07.11.1996          | 5+5 year periods      | Valid    |
|       10 | Greece                                                           | Agreement             | 13.01.1998          | 5+5 year periods      | Valid    |
|       11 | Indonesia                                                        | MoU                   | 08.02.2000          | 5+5 years period each | Valid    |
|       12 | Italy                                                            | Agreement             | 26.06.2000          | 5+5 year periods      | Valid    |
|       13 | Sri Lanka                                                        | MoU                   | 23.01.2004          | 5+5 year              | Valid    |

|         |                     |               |                       | periods                             |             |
|---------|---------------------|---------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------|
| 15.     | Serbia              | MoU           | 02.11.2004            | valid until either party terminates | Valid       |
| 16.     | IBSA Tripartite     | Agreement     | 15.10.2008            | 5+5 year periods                    | Valid       |
| 17.     | Agreement Poland    | Agreement     | 25.04.2009            | 5+5 year                            | Valid       |
| 18.     | ASEAN               | MoU           | 12.01.2012            | periods 12.01.2022                  | Valid       |
| 19.     | Mauritius           |               |                       | (5+5 years period) 5+5 year         | Valid       |
|         |                     | MoU           | 12.03.2013            | periods                             |             |
| 21.     | Nepal               |               | 25.11.2014            | periods 5+5 year                    | Valid       |
|         |                     | MoU           |                       | periods                             |             |
|         | China               |               | 15.05.2015            | clause 5+5 year                     | Valid       |
| 23.     |                     | Agreement     |                       | periods                             |             |
| 24. 25. | Tanzania Uzbekistan | MoU Agreement | 19.06.2015 01.10.2018 | 5+5 year periods 5+5 year           | Valid Valid |
| 26.     | Turkmenistan        | MoU           | 11.07.2015            | 5+5 year periods                    | Valid       |
| 27.     | Egypt               | MoU           | 24.08.2015            | 5+5 year periods                    | Valid       |
| 28.     | U.A.E.              | MoU           | 03.09.2015            | 5+5 year periods                    | Valid       |
| 29.     | Cambodia            | MoU           | 16.09.2015            | 5+5 year                            | Valid       |
|         |                     | MoU           |                       | periods                             |             |
| 30.     | Maldives            |               | 10.04.2016            | 5+5 year periods                    | Valid       |
| 31.     | Qatar               | MoU           | 05.06.2016            | 5+5 year periods                    | Valid       |
| 32.     | South Africa        | MoU           | 08.07.2016            | 5+5 year                            | Valid       |

|     |             |     |                       | periods           |       |
|-----|-------------|-----|-----------------------|-------------------|-------|
| 34. | Oman        | MoU | 11.02.2018            | 5+5 years period  | Valid |
| 35. | Bulgaria    | MoU | 05.09.2018            | 5+5 year periods  | Valid |
| 36. | Malta       | MoU | 17.09.2018            | 5+5 years         | Valid |
| 37. | Romania     | MoU | 19.09.2018            |                   |       |
| 38. | Colombia    |     |                       | Indefinite period | Valid |
|     |             | MoU | 04.10.2018            | 5+5 yeas periods  | Valid |
| 39. | Korea       | MOU | 05.11.2018            | 5+5 year period   | Valid |
| 40. | Argentina   | MoU | 18.02.2019            | 5+5 year period   | Valid |
| 42. | Croatia     | MoU | 26.03.2019            | 5+5 years         | Valid |
| 43. | Paraguay    | MoU | 27.09.2019            | 5+5 years periods | Valid |
| 44. | Philippines | MoU |                       | 5+5 years         | Valid |
| 45. | Finland     | MoU | 18.10.2019 21.11.2019 | periods 5 years   | Valid |
| 46. | Australia   | MoU | 11.02.2022            | 5 years           | Valid |

*****