Lok Sabha Question No. 1166 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: National Tourism Advisory Council
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Brijmohan Agrawal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.

## †1166

## ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## NATIONAL TOURISM ADVISORY COUNCIL

## †1166 . SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the National Tourism Advisory Council and the major recommendations made by the Council during its last five meetings;
- (b) whether any National Integrated Digital Platform for promotion of Guest Houses/Tourist Accommodation across all States and Union Territories has been recommended by the Council, if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon;
- (c) the  details  of  the  budget  allocation  for  promoting  tourism  in  the country  during  the  current  financial  year  including  Chhattisgarh, State/UT-wise; and
- (d) the details of the schemes approved during the last eleven years along with pending projects of Chhattisgarh?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM        (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) & (b): The National Tourism Advisory Council (NTAC) functions as a 'Think Tank' of the Ministry of Tourism under the chairpersonship of the Hon'ble Minister of Tourism. The Council comprises representatives from key  Central  Ministries,  individual  experts  in  the  field  of  travel  and tourism  management,  and  ex-officio  members  from  leading  industry associations.

The key recommendations emerging from the last five meetings of the National Tourism Advisory Council include promoting spiritual, religious, and  heritage  tourism;  strengthening  MICE  tourism;  and  developing additional  tourism  circuits  with  improved  air  and  rail  connectivity  to lesser-known  destinations.  The  Council  also  emphasized  the  need  to boost adventure tourism through infrastructure development and safety standards,  and  suggested  measures  to  increase  international  air  seat capacity to enhance inbound tourism. However, no specific recommendation  has  been  made  by  the  council  on the National Integrated Digital Platform for promotion of Guest Houses/Tourist Accommodation across all States and UTs. (c): Ministry extends financial support to State Governments and Union Territories (UTs) for promotion of tourism including Chhattisgarh under its  schemes  of  Domestic  Promotion  &  Publicity  including  Hospitality (DPPH).  The  allocation  under  the  Domestic  Promotion  and  Publicity including  Hospitality  (DPPH)  scheme  for  the  current  financial  year  is ₹136.90  crore.  State/ UT  wise  budget  allocation  are  not  made  by  the Ministry. (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 has revamped Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0  (SD2.0)  with  the  objective  to  develop  sustainable  and  responsible destinations following a destination centric approach. Under  the  Special  Assistance  to  States/Union  Territories  for  Capital Investment  (SASCI)  Scheme  of  Department  of  Expenditure,  Ministry  of Finance,  the  operational  guidelines  for  Development  of  Iconic  Tourist Centres to Global Scale were issued by the Ministry of Tourism. In line with the guidelines, Government of India has approved 40 Projects worth ₹ 3295.76  Crore  for  development  of  lesser-known  Tourism  sites  in  23 States, across the country. Details of funds sanctioned under the above-mentioned schemes in the State of Chhattisgarh are at Annexure.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1166 ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025 REGARDING NATIONAL TOURISM ADVISORY COUNCIL RAISED BY SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL.

The projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan scheme in Chhattisgarh: -

|   S. No. | Circuit / Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                             |   Amount Sanctioned (₹ Crore ) | Status    |
|----------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------|
|        1 | Tribal Circuit 2015-16    | Development of Jashpur- Kunkuri- Mainpat- Kamleshpur - Maheshpur -Kurdar - Sarodhadadar- Gangrel- Kondagaon - Nathiyanawagaon- Jagdalpur- Chitrakoot- Tirthgarh |                           96.1 | Completed |

List of sanctioned projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0.

|   S. no | Year of Sanction   | Destination   | Name of the Experience                             |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ Crore) | Status   |
|---------|--------------------|---------------|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|----------|
|       1 | 2024-25            | Kawardha      | Bhoramdeo Corridor Development, Kabirdham District |                      145.99 | Ongoing  |

Challenge  Based  Destination  Development  (CBDD),  a  sub-scheme  of Swadesh Darshan scheme.

|   S no | Year of Sanction   | Destination    | Category                            |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ Lakh) | Status   |
|--------|--------------------|----------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------|
|      1 | 2024-25            | Mayali Bagicha | Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites |                     996.97 | Ongoing  |

Special  Assistance  to  States  for  Capital  Investment  (SASCI  Scheme)Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale.

|   S. No. | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project                                          |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ Crore) | Status   |
|----------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|----------|
|        1 | 2024-25            | Development of Chitrotpala Film City in Raipur               |                       95.79 | Ongoing  |
|        2 | 2024-25            | Development of Tribal & Cultural Convention Centre in Raipur |                       51.87 | Ongoing  |

Projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme

|   S. No. | Sanction Year   | Project Name                                                                               |   Sanction Amount ( ₹ Crore ) | Status    |
|----------|-----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-----------|
|        1 | 2020-21         | Development of Maa Bamleshwari Devi Temple, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon District, Chhattisgarh |                         48.44 | Completed |

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