Lok Sabha Question No. 1076 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: Evaluation of Carrying Capacity of Tourism Centres
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Adv Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1076

## ANSWERED ON 02.12.2024

## EVALUATION OF CARRYING CAPACITY OF TOURISM CENTRES 1076. ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has established any scientific criteria or guidelines to evaluate the carrying capacity of each tourism centre and destination across the country to ensure sustainable tourism;
- (b) if so, the details of these criteria and the methodology used for such evaluations, including any parameters related to environmental impact, infrastructure limits, and visitor safety;
- (c) whether there is a process for regularly reviewing and updating these criteria in light of changes in visitor numbers, environmental conditions and local community needs; and
- (d) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote tourism in Idukki and Wayanad,  where  livelihood of local population depends on tourism?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF TOURISM      (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (c): The  Ministry  of Tourism  has  issued  guidelines  for  its Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  (SD2.0),  which  emphasis  to  undertake benchmarking  and  gap  analysis  with respect of multiple items including carrying capacity.

The Ministry of Tourism has also circulated a Template for Destination Master  Plan,  Strategy  and  Action  Plan  to  the  State  Governments which  includes  guidance  on  assessment  of  carrying  capacity  of destination and managing carrying capacity. The said method guides to undertake assessment of physical carrying capacity of the destination in terms of number of visitors that can be allowed over a period of time in a delineated limit. It further advises to consider other natural and/or man-made  factors affecting the tourism carrying capacity of destination based on significance and criticality of these factors  to  the  said  destination.  These  factors  may  include  variables such as heavy rainfall days, heavy snowfall days etc. Reviewing and updating  criteria  based  on  change  in  visitor  number,  environmental conditions and local community needs can be done as per destination requirement in order to ensure destination's ability to sustainably and safely  accommodate  visitors  without  degrading  the  environment, resources and to ensure long-term tourism viability.

(d): Ministry of Tourism under its Schemes of ' Swadesh Darshan ' and ' Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive (PRASHAD) ' complements  the  efforts  of  undertaking  development  of tourism in different part of the country by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations, subject to availability of funds, submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), adherence to scheme guidelines, utilization of funds released earlier etc.  Under the above mentioned schemes, Ministry of Tourism has already sanctioned the following projects in the State of Kerala:-

| Swadesh Darshan scheme    | Swadesh Darshan scheme                                                                                                          | Swadesh Darshan scheme         |
|---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Circuit/ Year of sanction | Name of the Project                                                                                                             | Amount sanctioned (₹ in Crore) |
| Eco Circuit 2015-16       | Development of Pathanamthitta- Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady                                                                          | 64.08                          |
| Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Sabarimala - Erumeli-Pampa-Sannidhanam                                                                           | 46.54                          |
| Spiritual Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Sree Padmanabha Temple, Aranmula                                                                                 | 78.08                          |
| Rural Circuit 2018-19     | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project                                                                           | 57.35                          |
| Spiritual Circuit 2018-19 | Development Sivagiri Sree Narayana Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara Sree Subrahmania- Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam | 66.42                          |
| PRASHAD                   | PRASHAD                                                                                                                         | PRASHAD                        |
| 2016-17                   | Development at Guruvayur Temple                                                                                                 | 45.19                          |

Further, under the SD2.0, the Ministry has sanctioned a project ' Kumarakom, and Kozhikode (Beypore) ' for ₹13.92 Crore.

The Ministry of Tourism has issued guidelines and templates for formulation of project proposals under 'Challenge Based Destination Development' a sub -scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 to the States and has identified 'Varkala' under  the Culture  &  Heritage  and  'Thalassery'  under  Spiritual  Tourism Category in this scheme in Kerala.

Ministry of Tourism  under its scheme  of  'Assistance to the Central Agencies'  has  sanctioned  6  projects  in  Kerala  as  per  the  details  given below:-

| Sanction Year   | Project                                                                                                    |   Amount In ₹ Crore |
|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| 2016-17         | Development of a Walkway/Promenade on Willingdon Island, Cochin, Kerala                                    |                9.01 |
| 2016-17         | Central Financial Assistance for upgrading of Births & Backup area of Ernakulam Wharf at Cochin Port Trust |               21.41 |
| 2016-17         | Project for Up-gradation of Golf Course at SAI Trivandrum Golf Club by the Sports Authority of India       |               24.65 |
| 2018-19         | Developing infrastructure at Cochin Port Cruise Terminal                                                   |                1.21 |
| 2018-19         | Creation of additional tourism facilities at the Cochin north Trust Walkway at Cochin Port Trust           |                4.65 |
| 2019-20         | CFA for Development of Additional infrastructure in the new Cochin Port Trust Terminal                     |               10.3  |

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