Lok Sabha Question No. 2204 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Tourism in North-Eastern Region
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Kamakhya Prasad Tasa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2204

## ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## TOURISM IN NORTH-EASTERN REGION

## 2204. SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Government  is  providing  adequate services to promote tourism in the North-Eastern Region;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the number of tourists both domestic and foreign who visited the North-Eastern States during the last year; and
- (d) the  details  of  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to create a barrier free environment for growth of tourism in the NorthEastern region?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM           (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (b): Ministry of Tourism promotes tourism in India through various initiatives including events, social media handles and campaigns. Information on tourist destinations in the country is promoted through the Incredible India Digital Portal. Also, Ministry of Tourism has launched the Incredible  India  Content  Hub  on  the  revamped  Incredible  India  digital portal  (www.incredibleindia.gov.in).  The  Incredible  India  Content  Hub  is aimed  to  be  a  comprehensive  digital  repository  of  high-quality  images, films,  brochures  and  newsletters  which  can  be  easily  accessed  by  the industry stakeholders (travel media, tour operators, travel agents) across the globe, required to amplify Incredible India in all their marketing and promotional efforts.

Ministry  of  Tourism  has  been organizing  International Tourism Mart (ITM)  in  the  North  Eastern  Region  to  showcase  the  tourism  potential  of North  Eastern  States  of  India.  The  latest  edition  of  ITM  was  held  in Kaziranga, Assam from 26th to 29th, November, 2024.

The Ministry of Tourism  through  its  Central  Institutes of Hotel Management (CIHMs)  at  Guwahati  and  Shillong,  which  are  Autonomous Bodies,  imparts professional  education  and  training  in the field of hospitality to create a pool of manpower sufficient to meet the needs of the tourism and hospitality industry, both quantitatively and qualitatively.

In addition, Ministry of Tourism under its scheme Capacity Building for  Service  Providers  (CBSP)  has  undertaken  various  skill  development programs to  provide  education,  training  and  certification  to  the  tourism service providers covering different level of Hospitality sector.

Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned projects for the development of tourism  related  infrastructure  under  the  Swadesh  Darshan,  Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASHAD and Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development Schemes.

Government  of  India  has  also  sanctioned  tourism  projects  under  the 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2024 -25' (SASCI).

The  details  of  projects  sanctioned  under  the  above  mentioned schemes in North Eastern region are given at Annexure.

## (c): Details of Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) and Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) to North Eastern States during 2023 are given below:

| S. No.   | States/UTs        | 2023      | 2023   |
|----------|-------------------|-----------|--------|
|          |                   | DTVs      | FTVs   |
| 1        | Arunachal Pradesh | 10,40,601 | 4,496  |
| 2        | Assam             | 76,12,720 | 23,818 |
| 3        | Manipur           | 57,701    | 3,668  |
| 4        | Meghalaya         | 13,71,674 | 19,973 |
| 5        | Mizoram           | 2,09,087  | 3,754  |
| 6        | Nagaland          | 99,720    | 4,725  |

| 7     | Sikkim   | 13,21,169   | 93,908   |
|-------|----------|-------------|----------|
| 8     | Tripura  | 3,66,104    | 66,708   |
| Total | Total    | 1,20,78,776 | 2,21,050 |

Source: States/UTs Tourism Department

(d): Effective and adequate connectivity is one of the important aspect for  developing  a  tourist  destination.  For  this  purpose,  Ministry  of  Civil Aviation,  Government  of  India  has  launched  RCS-UDAN  scheme,  whose primary  objective  is  to  facilitate/stimulate  regional  air  connectivity  by making  it  affordable.  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  collaborated  with  the Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation  to  extend  financial  support  in  the  form  of Viability  Gap Funding (VGF) under the Champion Service Sector Scheme (CSSS),  with  the  purpose  of  further  improving  connectivity  to  important tourist places including Iconic sites.

Following  routes  from  the  State  of  NER  have  been  included  in  Tourism RCS Routes:

|   Sl. No. | Route                                    |
|-----------|------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Dibrugarh to Dimapur                     |
|         2 | Dimapur to Dibrugarh                     |
|         3 | Dimapur to Imphal                        |
|         4 | Imphal to Dimapur                        |
|         5 | Agartala to Aizawl                       |
|         6 | Aizawl to Agartala                       |
|         7 | Dibrugarh to Imphal                      |
|         8 | Imphal to Dibrugarh                      |
|         9 | Hollongi (Arunachal Pradesh to Guwahati) |
|        10 | Guwahati to Hollongi (Arunachal Pradesh) |

*******

## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2204 ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024 REGARDING TOURISM IN NORTH-EASTERN REGION RAISED BY SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA

Details of Projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme

|   S. No. | State/ UT         | Circuit / Sanction Year     | Name of the Project                                                                                                                      |   Amount Sanctioned (Rs. In Crore) |
|----------|-------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|        1 | Arunachal Pradesh | North- East Circuit 2014-15 | Development of Bhalukpong- Bomdila and Tawang                                                                                            |                              49.77 |
|        2 | Arunachal Pradesh | North East Circuit 2015-16  | Development of Nafra- Seppa- Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota- New Sagalee- Ziro- Yomcha                                           |                              96.72 |
|        3 | Assam             | Wildlife Circuit 2015-16    | Development of Manas - Probitora - Nameri - Kaziranga - Dibru - Saikhowa                                                                 |                              94.68 |
|        4 | Assam             | Heritage Circuit 2016-17    | Development of Tezpur - Majuli - Sibsagar                                                                                                |                              90.98 |
|        5 | Manipur           | North- East Circuit 2015-16 | Development of Tourist Circuit in Manipur: Imphal- Khongjom                                                                              |                              72.23 |
|        6 | Manipur           | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Shri Govindajee Temple, Shri BijoyGovindajee Temple - Shri Gopinath Temple - Shri Bungshibodon Temple - Shri Kaina Temple |                              45.34 |
|        7 | Meghalaya         | North East Circuit          | Development of Umium (Lake View), U LumSohpetbneng- Mawdiangdiang - Orchid                                                               |                              99.13 |

|    |           | 2016-17                    | Lake Resort                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |       |
|----|-----------|----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
|  8 | Meghalaya | North East Circuit 2018-19 | Development of West Khasi Hills (Nongkhlaw- KremTirot - Khudoi&Kohmang Falls - Khri River- Mawthadraishan, Shillong), Jaintia Hills (Krang Suri Falls- Shyrmang- Iooksi), Garo Hills (Nokrek Reserve, KattaBeel, Siju Caves)             | 84.97 |
|  9 | Mizoram   | North East Circuit 2015-16 | Development of Thenzawl & South Zote, District Serchhip and Reiek.                                                                                                                                                                       | 92.26 |
| 10 | Mizoram   | Eco Circuit 2016-17        | Development of Eco- Adventure Circuit Aizawl - Rawpuichhip - Khawhphawp - Lengpui - Chatlang- Sakawrhmuituaitlang - Muthee - Beratlawng -Tuirial Airfield - Hmuifang                                                                     | 66.37 |
| 11 | Nagaland  | Tribal Circuit 2015-16     | Development of Tribal Circuit Peren- Kohima- Wokha                                                                                                                                                                                       | 97.36 |
| 12 | Nagaland  | Tribal Circuit 2016-17     | Development of Mokokchung- Tuensang-Mon                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 98.14 |
| 13 | Sikkim    | North East Circuit 2015-16 | Development of Tourist Circuit linking Rangpo (entry) - Rorathang- Aritar- Phadamchen- Nathang- Sherathang- Tsongmo- Gangtok-Phodong- Mangan- Lachung-Yumthang- Lachen- Thangu-Gurudongmer- Mangan- Gangtok- TuminLingee- Singtam (exit) | 98.05 |
| 14 | Sikkim    | North East Circuit         | Development of Tourist Circuit Linking Singtam - Maka- Temi-BermoikTokel-                                                                                                                                                                | 95.32 |

|    |         | 2016-17                    | Phongia- Namchi - Jorthang- Okharey- Sombaria- Daramdin- Jorethang- Melli (Exit)                                                          |       |
|----|---------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
| 15 | Tripura | North East Circuit 2015-16 | Development of Agartala - Sipahijala - Melaghar - Udaipur - Amarpur- Tirthamukh- Mandirghat - Dumboor- NarikelKunja- Gandachara - Ambassa | 82.85 |
| 16 | Tripura | North East Circuit 2018-19 | Development of SurmaCherra- Unakoti- Jampui Hills- Gunabati - Bhunaneshwari- Neermahal- Boxanagar- Chottakhola- Pilak- Avangchaarra       | 44.83 |

## Details of Projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme

|   S. No. | State             | Destination   | Name of the Experience           |   Sanctioned Cost (Rs. In Crore) | Date of Sanction   |
|----------|-------------------|---------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|--------------------|
|        1 | Arunachal Pradesh | Nacho         | Unlock Nacho Expedition          |                            14.02 | 05-03-2024         |
|        2 | Arunachal Pradesh | Mechuka       | Mechuka Cultural Haat            |                            18.48 | 05-03-2024         |
|        3 | Arunachal Pradesh | Mechuka       | Mechuka Adventure Park           |                            12.75 | 05-03-2024         |
|        4 | Assam             | Kokrajhar     | Kokrajhar Wetland Experience     |                            26.67 | 05-03-2024         |
|        5 | Assam             | Jorhat        | Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate |                            23.91 | 05-03-2024         |
|        6 | Meghalaya         | Sohra         | Waterfall Trails Experience      |                            27.84 | 05-03-2024         |

|   7 | Meghalaya   | Sohra        | Meghalayan Age Cave Experience               |   32.45 | 04-03-2024   |
|-----|-------------|--------------|----------------------------------------------|---------|--------------|
|   8 | Nagaland    | Chumoukedima | Eco-Tourism Exp at Chumoukedima viewpoint    |    7.87 | 20-08-2024   |
|   9 | Nagaland    | Chumoukedima | Tribal Cultural Experience at Midway Retreat |   21.56 | 05-03-2024   |
|  10 | Sikkim      | Gyalshing    | Eco-Wellness Experience at Yuksom Cluster    |   15.4  | 05-03-2024   |
|  11 | Sikkim      | Gangtok      | Gangtok Cultural Village                     |   22.59 | 29-02-2024   |

## Details of Projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme

|   Sl. No. | State/UT          | Project Name                                                                                                               | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost (Rs. In Crore) |
|-----------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|--------------------------------|
|         1 | Arunachal Pradesh | Development of Parshuram Kund                                                                                              | 2020-21         |                          37.88 |
|         2 | Assam             | Development of Pilgrimage amenities at Kamakhya Temple                                                                     | 2015-16         |                          29.8  |
|         3 | Meghalaya         | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Nongswalia Church, Nartiang Shakti Peeth, Aitnar Pool and Charantala Kali Temple | 2020-21         |                          29.29 |
|         4 | Mizoram           | Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage and Heritage Tourism at Chite Vang, Zuangtai, Reiek and Aizawl                | 2022-23         |                          44.89 |
|         5 | Nagaland          | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure at Molungkimong, Noksen                                                           | 2018-19         |                          25.2  |

|    |         | Church, Aizuto, Wokha and Kohima                                     |         |       |
|----|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|
|  6 |         | Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure at Zunheboto        | 2022-23 | 18.18 |
|  7 | Sikkim  | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Four Patron Saints, Yuksom | 2020-21 | 33.32 |
|  8 | Tripura | Development of Tripura Sundari Temple                                | 2020-21 | 34.43 |

## Details of Projects sanctioned under ' Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development ' Scheme

|   S. No | Name of State                                     | Year    | Name of Project                                                                                                                                                                       |   Amount sanctioned (Rs. In Crore) |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|       1 | Assam (Neamati, Pandu, Jogighopa & Biswanathghat) | 2019-20 | Ministry of Tourism has accorded approval for continuation of the development of 4 nos jetties in NW-2 (Brahmaputra)                                                                  |                              28.03 |
|       2 | Mizoram                                           | 2020-21 | Development of Convention Centre and associated Infrastructure at Aizawl, Mizoram                                                                                                     |                              39.95 |
|       3 | NER                                               | 2022-23 | Development of 22 viewpoints in North Eastern States (i) Nagaland (2 view points) (ii) Meghalaya (3 view points) (iii) Mizoram (9 view points) (iv) Arunachal Pradesh (4 view points) |                              44.44 |

|    |       |         | (v) Manipur (3 view points) (vi) Sikkim/West Bengal (1 view point)   |      |
|----|-------|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|------|
|  4 | Assam | 2018-19 | Joint Development of Kamakhya Railway Station                        | 4.96 |
|  5 | Assam | 2018-19 | Joint Development of Guwahati Railway Station                        | 4.99 |

## List of Projects sanctioned under SASCI Scheme

|   S. No. | State             | Project Name                                   |   Approved Cost (Rs. in Crore) |
|----------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|        1 | Arunachal Pradesh | Siang Adventure & Eco-Retreat, Pasighat        |                          46.48 |
|        2 | Assam             | Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Garden, Guwahati |                          97.12 |
|        3 | Assam             | Beautification of Rang Ghar at Sivasagar       |                          94.76 |
|        4 | Manipur           | Loktak Lake Experience                         |                          89.48 |
|        5 | Meghalaya         | MICE Infrastructure at Mawkhanu, Shillong      |                          99.27 |
|        6 | Meghalaya         | Re-development of Umiam Lake, Shillong         |                          99.27 |
|        7 | Sikkim            | Skywalk, Bhaleydhunga, Yangang, Namchi         |                          97.37 |
|        8 | Sikkim            | Border Experience, Nathula                     |                          68.19 |
|        9 | Tripura           | 51 Shakti Peethas Park at Banduar, Gomati      |                          97.7  |

*****