Lok Sabha Question No. 1669 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-10
Subject: Impact of Air Pollution on Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1669 ANSWERED ON 10.03.2025

## IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION ON TOURISM

## 1669. SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  assessment  of  the economic  impact  on  tourism  due  to  deteriorating  air  quality  in major  tourist  destinations,  particularly  in  North  India,  if  so,  the details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  being  taken  to  safeguard Amritsar as the expected tourist will be doubling soon;
- (b) the details of estimated revenue loss to the tourism sector during the  last  three  years  due  to  travel  advisories  and  cancellations related to air pollution;
- (c) whether  the  Government  plans  to  develop  alternative  tourist circuits and destinations with better air quality metrics;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  proposed  investment  for  such development in the next five years as daily tourist increasing from
- all over the world to visit Amritsar?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM         (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (b):   No  such  study  has  been  instituted  by  Ministry  of  Tourism, Government of India to assess the impact of air pollution on tourism and revenue  loss  due  to  travel  advisories  and  cancellations  related  to  air pollution.

(c) to (d): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  the  schemes  of  'Swadesh Darshan',  'National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)'  and  'Assistance  to  Central Agencies  for  Tourism  Infrastructure  Development'  provides  financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations/Central Agencies for the development of tourism-related infrastructure  and  facilities  at  various  tourism  destinations  in  the country. Ministry of Tourism revamped its Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan  2.0  (SD2.0)  with  the  objective  to  develop  sustainable  and responsible tourism destinations following a tourist &  destination centric approach. The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned two projects i.e. ' Eco Tourism experience at Kanjli wetland ' at Kapurthala, Punjab for Rs.20.06 Crore and  ' Border  Tourism  Experience  at  Attari '  at  Amritsar,  Punjab  for Rs.25.90  Crore.  The  details  of  projects  sanctioned  under  the  SD2.0  is placed at Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1669 ANSWERED ON 10.03.2025 REGARDING IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION ON TOURISM RAISED BY SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA

Details of projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2.0:

| S. No.              | State             | Destination                         |   Name of the Experience | Sanctioned Cost (₹ Cr ore)   | Date of Sanction   |
|---------------------|-------------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh      | Araku- Lambasingi | Borra Cave Experience at Araku      |                    29.87 | 05-03- 2024                  | 1                  |
| 2 Arunachal Pradesh | Nacho             | Unlock Nacho Expedition             |                    14.02 |                              | 05-03- 2024        |
| 3 Arunachal Pradesh | Mechuka           | Mechuka Cultural Haat               |                    18.48 |                              | 05-03- 2024        |
| 4 Arunachal Pradesh | Mechuka           | Mechuka Adventure Park              |                    12.75 |                              | 05-03- 2024        |
| 5 Assam             | Kokrajhar         | Kokrajhar Wetland Experience        |                    26.67 |                              | 05-03- 2024        |
| 6 Assam             | Jorhat            | Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate    |                    23.91 |                              | 05-03- 2024        |
| 7 Goa               | Porvorim          | Porvorim Creek Experience           |                    23.56 |                              | 20-08- 2024        |
| 8 Goa               | Colva             | Colva Beach Experience              |                    15.65 |                              | 20-08- 2024        |
| 9 Karnataka         | Hampi             | Setting up of 'Traveller nooks'     |                    25.64 |                              | 29-02- 2024        |
| 10 Karnataka        | Mysuru            | Tonga ride Heritage experience zone |                     2.72 |                              | 29-02- 2024        |
| 11 Karnataka        | Mysuru            | Ecological Experience Zone          |                    18.47 |                              | 05-03- 2024        |
| 12 Kerala           | Kumarakom         | Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary            |                    13.92 |                              | 05-03- 2024        |

|                   |               | Experience                                     |       |                |
|-------------------|---------------|------------------------------------------------|-------|----------------|
| 14 Ladakh         | Kargil        | Exploring LOC and Hundarman village Experience | 12.01 | 05-03- 2024    |
| 15 Madhya Pradesh | Gwalior       | Phoolbagh Experience Zone                      | 16.73 | 29-02- 2024    |
| 16 Madhya Pradesh | Chitrakoot    | Spiritual experience at Chitrakoot             | 27.21 | 05-03- 2024    |
| 17 Maharashtra    | Pune          | Shivsrushti Historical Theme Park- Phase 3     | 76.22 | 21-09- 2024    |
| 18 Meghalaya      | Sohra         | Waterfall Trails Experience                    | 27.84 | 05-03- 2024    |
| 19 Meghalaya      | Sohra         | Meghalayan Age Cave Experience                 | 32.45 | 04-03- 2024    |
| Nagaland          | Chumoukedima  | Eco-Tourism Exp at Chumoukedima viewpoint      |  7.87 | 20 20-08- 2024 |
| 21 Nagaland       | Chumuoukedima | Tribal Cultural Experience at Midway Retreat   | 21.56 | 05-03- 2024    |
| 22 Puducherry     | Karaikal      | Karaikal beach and waterfront experience       | 20.29 | 05-03- 2024    |
| 23 Punjab         | Kapurthala    | Eco Tourism experience at Kanjli wetland       | 20.06 | 05-03- 2024    |
| 24 Punjab         | Amritsar      | Border Tourism Experience at Attari            | 25.9  | 20-08- 2024    |
| 25 Rajasthan      | Bundi         | Spiritual Experience, Keshavraipatan           | 17.37 | 29-02- 2024    |

| 26           | Sikkim         | Gyalshing    | Eco-Wellness Experience at Yuksom Cluster   |   15.40 | 05-03- 2024   |
|--------------|----------------|--------------|---------------------------------------------|---------|---------------|
| 27           | Sikkim Gangtok |              | Gangtok Cultural Village                    |   22.59 | 29-02- 2024   |
| 28           | Tamil Nadu     | Mamallapuram | Immersive experience at Shore Temple        |   30.02 | 29-02- 2024   |
| 29           | Telangana      | Bhongir      | Bhongir Fort Experiential Zone              |   56.81 | 29-02- 2024   |
| 30           | Telangana      | Ananathagiri | Eco tourism zone at Ananathgiri forest      |   38    | 05-03- 2024   |
| 31           | Uttar Pradesh  | Prayagraj    | Azad Park and Dekho Prayagraj Trail Exp     |   13.02 | 05-03- 2024   |
| 32           | Uttar Pradesh  | Naimisaranya | Vedic- wellness Experience                  |   15.94 | 05-03- 2024   |
| 33           | Uttarakhand    | Pithoragarh  | Rural Tourism Cluster Experience at Gunji   |   32.2  | 05-03- 2024   |
| 34           | Uttarakhand    | Champawat    | Tea Garden Experience                       |   11.21 | 05-03- 2024   |
| TOTAL AMOUNT | TOTAL AMOUNT   | TOTAL AMOUNT | TOTAL AMOUNT                                |  791.25 | 791.25        |

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