Lok Sabha Question No. 3261 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-09
Subject: Action Taken to Improve Tourism Potential in North-Eastern States
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: D. M. Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3261 ANSWERED ON 09.08.2021

## ACTION TAKEN TO IMPROVE TOURISM POTENTIAL IN NORTHEASTERN STATES

3261. SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures taken by the Government to improve the tourism potential  in  North-Eastern  India  and  the  revenue  generated from International tourism;
- (b) the  details  of  the  State  which  has  the  highest  revenue  from tourism in last three years along with the details of the State which  has  the  highest  potential  for  tourism  and  unable  to harness it; and
- (c)

MINISTER OF TOURISM

- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (c): Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance  (CFA)  for  the  projects  as  submitted  by  the  State Governments including the North Eastern States under its various scheme  guidelines,  subject  to  submission  of  Detailed  Project Report (DPR), their adherence to scheme guidelines, submission of Utilization  Certificates  and  availability  of  funds.  The  Detail  of projects  sanctioned  in  the  North  Eastern  States  under  Swadesh Darshan & PRASHAD Schemes in the last three years is given at Annexure-I.

For  promotion  of  tourism  in  North  Eastern  Region,  Ministry carries out special promotion in domestic and international markets  highlighting  region's  diversity,  tourism  products  and  its rich culture. The Ministry organizes International Travel Mart (ITM)

every year in one of the North Eastern States, with the objective of providing a platform to them to showcase their tourism potential to prospective international and domestic buyers and opportunity to interact with them. The last edition of ITM was held in Manipur.

Ministry of Tourism also provides Central Financial Assistance  under  the  relevant  Scheme  guidelines  for  proposals submitted  by  State  Governments/Union  Territory  administrations for organizing  fairs/festivals/events. The  State-wise  details  of funds sanctioned for fairs & festivals and project sanctioned under the Assistance to Central Agencies Scheme for the year 2018-19 to 2020-21 is given at Annexure-II.

The  Ministry  does  not  maintain  data  on  revenue  generated from Tourism. However, the details of Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE)  from  tourism  during  the  year  2018,  2019  and  2020  is  as follows:

| Year   | Foreign Exchange Earnings (Rs. in Crore)   |
|--------|--------------------------------------------|
| 2018#2 | 1,94,881                                   |
| 2019#2 | 2,11,661                                   |
| 2020#2 | 50,136                                     |

# 2: Revised Estimates

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ANNEXURE-I

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.3261  ANSWERED  ON  09.08.2021  REGARDING  ACTION TAKEN TO IMPROVE TOURISM POTENTIAL IN NORTH-EASTERN STATES.

LIST  OF  PROJECTS  SANCTIONED  UNDER  SWADESH  DARSHAN  & PRASHAD SCHEMES FOR NORTH EASTERN REGION

## (Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.   | State/UT   | Name of the Circuit   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Amt. Sanctioned   |
|-----------|------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|           | 2018-19    |                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                   |
| 1.        | Tripura    | North East circuit    | Development of Surma Cherra- Unakoti- Jampui Hills - Gunabati-Bhunaneshwari- Matabari- Neermahal- Boxanagar - Chottakhola- Pilak- Avangchaarra                                                                                  | 65.00             |
| 2.        | Meghalaya  | North East Circuit    | Development of West Khasi Hills (Nongkhlaw- Krem Tirot - Khudoi & Kohmang Falls - Khri River- Mawthadraishan, Shillon), Jaintia Hills (Krang Suri Falls- Shyrmang- Iooksi), Garo Hills (Nokrek Reserve, Katta Beel, Siju Caves) | 84.97             |

PRASHAD SCHEME (Rs. in crore)

| State             | Name of Project                                                      | Year of sanction   |   Approved cost |
|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|-----------------|
| NAGALAND          | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure in Nagaland                 | 2018-19            |           25.26 |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH | Development of Parasuram Kund, Lohit Distt.                          | 2020-21            |           37.88 |
| MEGHALAYA         | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation in Meghalaya                  | 2020-21            |           29.32 |
| SIKKIM            | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Four Patron Saints, Yuksom | 2020-21            |           33.32 |
| TRIPURA           | Development of Tripura Sundari Temple, Udaipur                       | 2020-21            |           37.84 |

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ANNEXURE-II

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.3261  ANSWERED  ON  09.08.2021  REGARDING  ACTION TAKEN TO IMPROVE TOURISM POTENTIAL IN NORTH-EASTERN STATES.

## LIST OF FAIRS & FESTIVALS IN NORTH EASTERN REGION DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS

(Rs. in Lakh)

| Name of States    | Years   | Name of Festivals                                       |   Amount sanctioned |
|-------------------|---------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| Assam             | 2018-19 | International Buddhist conference                       |                  25 |
|                   |         | CFA for organizing Rongali festival                     |                  25 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 2018-19 | Basar Confluence 3.0 Festival                           |                  20 |
| Meghalaya         | 2018-19 | Wangala Dance Festival and Nongkrem Dance Festival      |                  50 |
| Mizoram           | 2018-19 | Organizing ChapcharKut Festival                         |                  25 |
| Sikkim            | 2018-19 | CFA for World Tourism Day, Red Panda Festival , Gangtok |                  50 |

(Rs. in Lakh)

| Name of States    | Years   | Name of Festivals                                                   |   Amount sanctioned |
|-------------------|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| Arunachal Pradesh | 2019-20 | Organizing River Tribe's Angling Festival & Butterfly Meet at MIAO  |                  50 |
| Manipur           | 2019-20 | Sangai Festival, Youth Adventure & Water Sports festival            |                  50 |
| Meghalaya         | 2019-20 | Wangala Dance&Nongkrem Dance Festival                               |                  50 |
| Mizoram           | 2019-20 | Organizing Anthurium Festival & Winter Festival                     |                  50 |
| Nagaland          | 2019-20 | Organizing Thuwu-Ni Festival, Hornbill Festival &Sukhrunye Festival |                  50 |
| Sikkim            | 2019-20 | Organizing World Tourism Day& Red Panda Winter Festival             |                  50 |
| Tripura           | 2019-20 | Kharchi Mela Neermahal & Diwali Mela                                |                  42 |

(Rs. in Lakh)

| Name of States    | Years   | Name of Festivals                                                                  |   Amount sanctioned |
|-------------------|---------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| Arunachal Pradesh | 2020-21 | Organizing Pedal to Pakke                                                          |                  25 |
| Mizoram           | 2020-21 | Anthurium Festival & Winter Festival                                               |                  50 |
| Sikkim            | 2020-21 | Red Panda Winter Carnival, Jorethang Maghey Mela & Pelling Winter Tourism Festival |                  50 |
| Tripura           | 2020-21 | Bharat Bangla Festival                                                             |                  25 |

PROJECT  SANCTIONED  UNDER  ASSISTANCE  TO  CENTRAL  AGENCIES SCHEME (Rs. in Lakh)

| Year    | State   | Name of projects                                                                  | Implementing Agency   |   Amount sanctioned |
|---------|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|
| 2020-21 | Mizoram | Development of Convention Centre and associated Infrastructure at Aizawl, Mizoram | WAPCOS                |             3994.75 |

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