Lok Sabha Question No. 2433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Funds Sanctioned for Rural Tourism Projects
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2433 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## FUNDS SANCTIONED FOR RURAL TOURISM PROJECTS

## 2433. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  noted  the  findings  of  the  recently published 2022 UN list of best tourism villages worldwide which does not feature a single Indian village;
- (b) the State/UT-wise details of the funds sanctioned and utilized for Rural  Tourism  Projects  out  of  the  proposals  received  during  the last five years and the status of progress of these projects;
- (c) whether the Government has developed any criteria or undertaken any assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of existing schemes in promoting rural tourism;
- (d) the further steps being taken by the Government to promote rural tourism to generate  employment  and  exhibit  India's ancient heritage  while  also  providing  better  connectivity  to  rural  areas; and
- (e) whether the Government plans to include tourism in the concurrent list to ensure seamless coordination and promote rural tourism and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a): Yes,  Sir.    Khonoma  village  in  Nagaland  was  selected  for  the UNWTO upgrade programme in 2022.

In  2021,  Pochampally  Village  in  Telangana was  selected  as  Best Tourism Village. In 2023, Dhordo Village in Gujarat has been selected as Best Tourism Village and Madla, Madhya Pradesh has been selected for the upgrade programme for the year 2023.

(b) to (d): Developing and promoting Rural Tourism can generate income and jobs in rural areas and empower local communities, youth and women, fulfilling the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. With the aim to achieve convergence and synergy between various schemes, Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Development of Rural Tourism in India -An initiative towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Rural circuit was  identified as  one of the thematic circuits for development of tourism related infrastructure under Swadesh Darshan scheme of Ministry of Tourism. Details of funds sanctioned and released for Rural tourism circuits are at Annexure.

Ministry of Tourism has now revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable destination and responsible destinations following a tourist & centric approach.

Further, Ministry  of  Tourism has taken the following steps to promote Rural Tourism in the country:

- (i) The Rural Tourism Village portal was launched on 16th February 2023. The website has information about the rural tourism destinations  in  India,  Rural  homestays  in  India,  Government  and Industry initiatives for rural tourism etc.
- (ii) Ministry of Tourism in partnership with Central Nodal Agency for Rural Tourism (IITTM) conducted the Best Tourism Village Competition.  The  final  evaluation  brought  out  35  Best  Tourism Villages of India.
- (iii) Ministry  is  running  Pan-India  Incredible  India  Tourist  Facilitator (IITF)/ Incredible India Tourist Guide (IITG) Program w.e.f. 01.01.2020,  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 including the rural and little-known tourist destinations.  The  system  provides  basic  (IITF),  advanced  (IITGheritage  and  adventure),  spoken  foreign  language  and  refresher courses  for  candidates.  The  candidates  can  pursue  these  online courses from anywhere and at any time and at their own pace.
- (iv) 'Effective  and  adequate  connectivity  is  one  of  the  important aspect  for  developing  a  tourist  destination.  For  this  purpose, Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation,  Govt.  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. At present 53 tourism routes are operational.

Pradhan  Mantri  gram  Sadak  Yojana  (PMGSY-I)  of  Ministry  of  Rural Development is a one-time special intervention of Government of India to provide rural connectivity, by way of a single all-weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations in the core network.

Subsequently, new intervention/verticals namely PMGSY-II, Road Connectivity  Project  for  Left  Wing  Extremism  Areas  (RCPLWEA)  and PMGSY-III  were  added  under  the  ambit  of  PMGSY  for  upgradation  of rural roads, construction of strategically important roads in LWE Areas and  for  consolidation  of  1,25,000  Km  through  Routes  and  Major  Rural Links connecting habitations, inter-alia, to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.

Since  inception  till  13.12.2023,  1,86,541  roads  of  8,14,522  Km  road length and 11,587 bridges have been sanctioned at the value of projects of  Rs.  3,76,472.36  crore, out  of  which  1,77,628  roads  of  7,49,363  Km road length and 8,435 bridges have been completed at an investment of Rs. 3,12,986.17 crore (including State Share).

The huge network of rural roads constructed under PMGSY has directly and indirectly connected  many  important  places  having  potential of rural tourism. Thus PMGSY has helped in promoting rural tourism.

(e): No,  Sir.  To  ensure  seamless  coordination  and  promote  rural tourism  a  Task  Force  for  Development  of  Rural  Tourism  has  been constituted  under  the  Chairpersonship  of  Secretary  (T),  comprising  of representatives  from  identified  Central  Ministries/  organizations,  State Governments/ UT Administrations and Industry Stakeholders.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (b) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2433 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023 REGARDING FUNDS SANCTIONED FOR RURAL TOURISM PROJECTS BY SHRI RITESH PANDEY

## Details of project sanctioned under the Rural Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the country

| (₹ in crore)   | (₹ in crore)   | (₹ in crore)          | (₹ in crore)                                          | (₹ in crore)      | (₹ in crore)    | (₹ in crore)     | (₹ in crore)        | (₹ in crore)                                |
|----------------|----------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------|------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.        | Name of State  | Year of Sanction      | Project Name                                          | Amount Sanctioned | Amount Released | Amount Utilised* | Physical Status (%) | Implementing Agency                         |
| 1.             | Bihar          | 2017-18               | Development of Bhitiharwa - Chandrahia- Turkaulia     | 44.27             | 39.96           | 39.96            | Complete            | Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation |
| 2.             | Kerala         | Rural Circuit 2018-19 | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project | 57.35             | 30.98           | 25.14            | 54.60               | Kerala Tourism Development Corporation      |

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