Lok Sabha Question No. 738 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Expansion of Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane, Bhavana Gawali (Patil)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †738 ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## EXPANSION OF TOURISM

- †738. SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

## SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  expand  tourism  in other  sectors  so  as  to  promote  the  tourism  industry  in  the country;
- (b) the  necessary  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote tourism industry in the country;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  or  proposes  to  take  any initiative  or  prepare  any  special  curriculum  for  the  guides  to promote tourism in the country;
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  for  security  of foreign tourists and promotion of tourism in the country; and
- (f) the  efforts  being  made  by  the  Government  for  development/ identification of new tourist places in the country?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (f): Identification, development and promotion of tourist places is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  the tourism destinations of the country, in a holistic manner.  The promotions are carried out under the sch emes of 'Domestic Promotion and Publicity including Hospitality' (DPPH) and 'Overseas Promotion & Publicity  including  Market  Development  Assistance'  (OPMD)  in  the domestic and important global markets. Thematic tourism like wellness tourism, tea tourism, culinary tourism, rural, eco-tourism, etc. amongst other niche subjects are vigorously promoted as to expand the scope of tourism into other sectors as well. Digital promotions are also  carried  out  to  highlight  different  themes  through  the  website -www.incredibleindia.org as well as the social media accounts of the Ministry.  Besides  the  above,  as  part  of  the  promotions,  Ministry  of Tourism  also  provides  financial  assistance  to  the  States/UTs/Central Agencies under its schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan', 'National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure  Development' for  the  development  of  tourism  related infrastructure  to  realise  the  full  potential  of  tourist  places  in  the country.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  the  'Dekho  Apna  Desh' initiative,  which  is  being  promoted  extensively  on  social  media accounts and website of the Ministry and by Domestic India Tourism Offices.  Under  this  initiative  Ministry  has  been  organizing  webinars, quiz,  pledge,  discussions,  road  shows  to  keep  connected  with  the stakeholders and to encourage citizens to travel within the country.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  revised  the  guidelines  for  the Scheme  of  Market  Development  Assistance  (MDA)  for  promotion  of domestic tourism to enhance the scope and reach of the Scheme, so as  to  provide  maximum  benefits  to  the  stakeholders.  As  per  the revised MDA guidelines, the stakeholders are  provided with financial support for the promotion of Domestic Tourism. Tourism Departments of  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  are  now  also  eligible  for obtaining financial support under the scheme. Additional promotional activities have been incorporated including online promotions for the States of North-East India including the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The extent of financial assistance permissible under the MDA scheme has also been enhanced.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  is  running  Pan-India  Incredible  India Tourist  Facilitator  (IITF)  Certification  Program,  which  is  a  digital initiative  that  aims  at  creating  an  Online  learning  platform  with  the objective  of  creating  a  pool  of  well  trained  and  professional  Tourist Facilitators/Guides  across  the  country.  The  system  provides  basic, advanced IITG (heritage and adventure), spoken language and refresher  courses  for  candidates.  The  candidates  can  pursue  these online courses from anywhere and at any time and at their own pace. So far, Incredible India Tourism Facilitator Basic Course online exam has been conducted for three times, wherein, a total 3795 candidates have completed the IITF Basic exam. IITG (Heritage) course has been launched by IITTM on IITF portal and is open for registration.

Security  of  tourists  is  essentially  a  State  Government  subject. However, Ministry of Tourism has taken several measures to ensure the safety and security of tourists which are:

- The Ministry of Tourism has taken up the matter with all State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations for setting up of  dedicated  Tourism  Police.  With  the  efforts  of  Ministry  of Tourism, the State Governments /UT Administrations of Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan,  Sikkim  and  Uttar  Pradesh  have  deployed  tourist
- i. police in one form or the other.
- ii. Ministry of Tourism through Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM) got a study conducted naming 'Functioning of Tourist P olice in States/UTs & Documentation of Best Pra ctices', to understand the requirement of tourist police and  sensitizing  the  tourist  police  towards  the  needs  of  the tourists,  which  was  sent  to  all  the  States/UTs.  A  training module,  as  given  by  IITTM  for  imparting  training  was  also forwarded  to  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs,  which  was  further circulated to the Chief Secretaries of all State Governments/UT Administrations.
- iii. Ministry of Tourism highlighted the issue of safety & security of the  foreign  as  well  as  domestic  tourists  with  the  Ministry  of Home Affairs. As desired by Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Tourism  forwarded  a  list  of  25  tourist  sites  which  could  be taken as pilot project for formation of a separate police unit in the States/UTs.
- iv. To  develop  a  comprehensive  framework,  Bureau  of  Police Research and Development (BPR&D) commissioned a study on Tourist  Police  Scheme  and  formulated  a  very  comprehensive report. With the objective of implementation of Uniform Tourist Police across all the  States/ UTs to create a safer ecosystem for  the  tourists,  Ministry  of  Tourism  in  collaboration  with  the Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  and  BPR&D  organized  a  National Conference  on  Tourist  Police  Scheme  of  Director  Generals (DGs)/Inspector  Generals  (IGs)  of  Police  Department  of  all  the States/ UTs on 19.10.2022 in New Delhi.
- v. The Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Info-Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12 Languages including 10 international languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic), Hindi English for domestic and  foreign  tourists  to  provide  support  service  in  term  of information relating to Travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress while travelling in India.
- vi. The  Ministry  of  Tourism  along  with  all  stakeholders,  including the Tourism Departments of all States and UTs, have adopted the 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism' which is a set of guidelines to encourage tourism activities to be undertaken with respect for basic right like dignity, safety and freedom from exploitation of both tourists and local residents in particular, women and children.

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