Lok Sabha Question No. 2321 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Initiatives Implemented to enhance Tourism Promotion
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Sunil Baburao Mendhe, Lallu Singh, Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2321 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED TO ENHANCE TOURISM PROMOTION

## 2321.SHRI SUNIL BABURAO MENDHE:

SHRI LALLU SINGH:

SHRI T.R. BAALU:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) a detailed account of the initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Tourism over the past five years to enhance tourism promotion; and
- (b) the  quantifiable  benefits  and  achievements  realised  by  the  tourism
- sector as a result of these initiatives?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

## THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

- (a) & (b): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  taken  several  steps/measures under  various  schemes/initiatives  over  the  years  for  development  and promotion of tourism sector in the country as per details given below:
- i. Development  of tourism related infrastructure is done through projects sanctioned under the 'Swadesh Darshan', 'National Mission on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual  Heritage  Augmentation Drive  (PRASHAD)'  and  'Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  for  Tourism Infrastructure Development' Schemes.
- ii. The Ministry of Tourism has revamped its Swadesh Darshan Scheme as  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  (SD2.0)  with  the  objective  to  develop sustainable and responsible destinations following a tourist  & destination centric approach.
- iii. Financial assistance has been provided to the State Governments/UTs  for  organizing  fairs/festivals  &  tourism  related events  under  Domestic  Promotion  &  Publicity  including  Hospitality (DPPH) Scheme.
- iv. Dekho Apna Desh initiative launched with the objective to encourage citizens to travel within the country.
- v. Thematic tourism like wellness tourism, culinary tourism, rural, ecotourism etc., amongst other niche subjects are vigorously promoted so as to expand the scope of tourism into other sectors as well.
- vi. Providing facility of e-Visa for 7 sub-categories i.e. e-Tourist Visa, eBusiness Visa, e-Medical Visa, e-Medical Attendant Visa, eConference  Visa,  e-Ayush  Visa  and  e-Ayush  Attendant  Visa  for  the nationals of 167 countries.
- vii. E-Visa  has  been  further  liberalized  and  the  visa  fee  has  been substantially reduced.
- viii. Lowering of GST on hotels rooms with tariffs of ₹1,001 to ₹7,500/night to 12%; those above ₹7,501 to 18% to increase India's competitiveness as a tourism destination.
- ix. Ministry  of  Tourism  has  collaborated  with  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation under their RCS-UDAN Scheme. As on date, 53 tourism routes have been operationalized to improve air connectivity to tourist destinations.
- x. Ministry  of  Tourism  is  running  Pan-India  Incredible  India  Tourist Facilitator  (IITF)  Certification  Program,  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 and generating employment opportunities at local level.
- xi. Conducting  Programmes  under  the  'Capacity  Building  for  Service Providers' (CBSP) Scheme to train and up-grade manpower to provide better service standards.
- xii. The National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry (NIDHI) is a technology  driven  system,  which  is  to  facilitate  digitalization  and promote ease of doing business for hospitality & tourism sector. This initiative has been upgraded as NIDHI+ to have more inclusivity, that is,  of  not  only  Accommodation  Units,  but  also  Travel  Agents,  Tour Operators,  Tourist  Transport  Operators,  Food  &  Beverage  Units, Online Travel Aggregators, Convention Centres and Tourist Facilitators.

Details of Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) and Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) during the period of 2018 to 2022 in India is given below:

| Year   | DTV (in Lakh)   | FTV (in Lakh)   |
|--------|-----------------|-----------------|
| 2018   | 288.5           | 18537.9         |
|        | 23219.8 314.1   | 2019            |
| 2020   | 6102.2 71.7     |                 |
|        | 6776.3 10.5     | 2021            |
|        | 17310.1 85.9    | 2022            |

Source: States/UTs Tourism Department

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