Lok Sabha Question No. 127 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Special Schemes to Increase Religious Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Sudarshan Bhagat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†127

## ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023

## SPECIAL SCHEMES TO INCREASE RELIGIOUS TOURISM

†127. SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is fact that religious tourism has increased in the country during the last five years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government is implementing any special scheme in this regard; and
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                        (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): The details of state-wise domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) and Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) during the last five years are given in the Annexure-I.

(c) & (d): Ministry of Tourism under its PRASHAD Scheme provides Central Financial Assistance to the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations for development of tourism infrastructure  at  the  religious  tourist  places  on  receipt  of  suitable project  proposals  in  line  with  the  Scheme  Guidelines.  State-wise details  of  the  projects  approved  under  PRASHAD  Scheme  on  the basis  of  the  project  proposals  received  from  the  respective  State Governments, approved costs and the funds released are available in Annexure-II.

*********

## ANNEXURE-I

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†127 ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023 REGARDING SPECIAL SCHEMES TO INCREASE RELIGIOUS TOURISM BY SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT.

The State-wise details of Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) and Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) during 2018-2022 are as follows:

(in Lakhs)

| States/UTs                               | 2018                     | 2018                     | 2019                     | 2019                     | 2020   | 2020   | 2021   | 2021   | 2022         | 2022   |
|------------------------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------------|--------|
| States/UTs                               | DTV                      | FTV                      | DTV                      | FTV                      | DTV    | FTV    | DTV    | FTV    | DTV          | FTV    |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands                | 4.98                     | 0.15                     | 5.05                     | 0.16                     | 1.91   | 0.05   | 1.26   | 0.02   | 2.35         | 0.04   |
| Andhra Pradesh                           | 1947.68                  | 2.81                     | 2370.52                  | 2.80                     | 708.29 | 0.68   | 932.78 | 0.28   | 1927.17      | 1.66   |
| Arunachal Pradesh                        | 5.12                     | 0.08                     | 5.56                     | 0.08                     | 0.43   | 0.01   | 1.03   | 0.00   | 2.22         | 0.01   |
| Assam                                    | 47.11                    | 0.16                     | 54.48                    | 0.27                     | 12.67  | 0.07   | 14.09  | 0.01   | 83.82        | 0.09   |
| Bihar                                    | 336.22                   | 10.88                    | 339.90                   | 10.93                    | 56.38  | 3.08   | 25.01  | 0.01   | 253.30       | 0.87   |
| Chandigarh                               | 15.39                    | 0.40                     | 15.64                    | 0.44                     | 4.18   | 0.12   | 2.29   | 0.05   | 30.27        | 0.28   |
| Chhattisgarh                             | 193.30                   | 0.14                     | 173.05                   | 0.07                     | 28.10  | 0.02   | 47.47  | 0.00   | 236.36       | 0.00   |
| UT of Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu | 15.08                    | 0.07                     | 15.16                    | 0.07                     | 4.02   | 0.02   | 6.61   | 0.00   | 8.00         | 0.02   |
| Delhi                                    | 291.14                   | 27.41                    | 364.68                   | 29.83                    | 95.84  | 6.81   | 106.42 | 1.00   | 271.86       | 8.16   |
| Goa                                      | 70.82                    | 9.34                     | 71.27                    | 9.37                     | 32.59  | 3.03   | 33.08  | 0.22   | 70.12        | 1.75   |
| Gujarat                                  | 543.70                   | 5.13                     | 588.65                   | 5.96                     | 194.65 | 2.10   | 245.25 | 0.11   | 1358.1117.77 |        |
| Haryana                                  | 48.89                    | 0.74                     | 45.49                    | 0.48                     | 21.15  | 0.17   | 20.25  | 0.05   | 21.08        | 0.02   |
| Himachal Pradesh                         | 160.94                   | 3.57                     | 168.29                   | 3.83                     | 31.71  | 0.43   | 56.32  | 0.05   | 150.71       | 0.29   |
| Jammu & Kashmir                          | 170.76                   | 1.40                     | 161.63                   | 0.58                     | 25.20  | 0.05   | 113.15 | 0.02   | 184.99       | 0.20   |
| Jharkhand                                | 354.09                   | 1.76                     | 355.81                   | 1.76                     | 25.75  | 0.00   | 33.84  | 0.02   | 382.84       | 1.92   |
| Karnataka                                | 2143.06                  | 5.44                     | 2279.35                  | 6.09                     | 774.53 | 1.65   | 813.34 | 0.72   | 1824.13      | 1.29   |
| Kerala                                   | 156.05                   | 10.96                    | 183.84                   | 11.90                    | 49.89  | 3.41   | 75.38  | 0.60   | 188.67       | 3.46   |
| Lakshadweep                              | 0.10                     | 0.01                     | 0.07                     | 0.01                     | 0.03   | 0.00   | 0.14   | 0.00   | 0.23         | 0.00   |
| Madhya Pradesh                           | 839.70                   | 3.75                     | 887.07                   | 3.28                     | 235.20 | 1.00   | 255.54 | 0.42   | 358.49       | 2.04   |
| Maharashtra                              | 1191.9250.791492.9555.29 | 1191.9250.791492.9555.29 | 1191.9250.791492.9555.29 | 1191.9250.791492.9555.29 | 392.35 | 12.62  | 435.69 | 1.86   | 1112.9815.12 |        |

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| States/UTs    | 2018                                                           | 2018                                                           | 2019                                                           | 2019                                                           | 2020                                                           | 2020                                                           | 2021                                                           | 2021                                                           | 2022                                                           | 2022                                                           |
|---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| States/UTs    | DTV                                                            | FTV                                                            | DTV                                                            | FTV                                                            | DTV                                                            | FTV                                                            | DTV                                                            | FTV                                                            | DTV                                                            | FTV                                                            |
| Manipur       | 1.76                                                           | 0.06                                                           | 1.68                                                           | 0.14                                                           | 0.50                                                           | 0.03                                                           | 0.49                                                           | 0.01                                                           | 1.40                                                           | 0.04                                                           |
| Meghalaya     | 11.98                                                          | 0.18                                                           | 12.46                                                          | 0.26                                                           | 0.25                                                           | 0.02                                                           | 1.54                                                           | 0.00                                                           | 9.37                                                           | 0.08                                                           |
| Mizoram       | 0.77                                                           | 0.01                                                           | 1.64                                                           | 0.02                                                           | 0.31                                                           | 0.00                                                           | 0.87                                                           | 0.00                                                           | 2.18                                                           | 0.03                                                           |
| Nagaland      | 1.02                                                           | 0.05                                                           | 1.26                                                           | 0.06                                                           | 0.11                                                           | 0.01                                                           | 0.24                                                           | 0.00                                                           | 0.97                                                           | 0.03                                                           |
| Odisha        | 152.09                                                         | 1.11                                                           | 153.08                                                         | 1.15                                                           | 46.22                                                          | 0.10                                                           | 37.42                                                          | 0.02                                                           | 78.68                                                          | 0.22                                                           |
| Puducherry    | 16.17                                                          | 1.41                                                           | 17.13                                                          | 1.50                                                           | 11.15                                                          | 0.92                                                           | 12.53                                                          | 0.00                                                           | 17.60                                                          | 0.01                                                           |
| Punjab        | 445.95                                                         | 12.01                                                          | 473.85                                                         | 11.01                                                          | 166.92                                                         | 3.59                                                           | 266.40                                                         | 3.08                                                           | 260.89                                                         | 3.29                                                           |
| Rajasthan     | 502.36                                                         | 17.54                                                          | 522.20                                                         | 16.06                                                          | 151.17                                                         | 4.46                                                           | 219.89                                                         | 0.35                                                           | 1083.28                                                        | 3.97                                                           |
| Sikkim        | 14.26                                                          | 0.71                                                           | 14.22                                                          | 1.33                                                           | 3.16                                                           | 0.20                                                           | 5.12                                                           | 0.12                                                           | 16.26                                                          | 0.69                                                           |
| Tamil Nadu    | 3859.0960.744948.6568.661406.5112.281153.37 0.58 2185.85 4.07  | 3859.0960.744948.6568.661406.5112.281153.37 0.58 2185.85 4.07  | 3859.0960.744948.6568.661406.5112.281153.37 0.58 2185.85 4.07  | 3859.0960.744948.6568.661406.5112.281153.37 0.58 2185.85 4.07  | 3859.0960.744948.6568.661406.5112.281153.37 0.58 2185.85 4.07  | 3859.0960.744948.6568.661406.5112.281153.37 0.58 2185.85 4.07  | 3859.0960.744948.6568.661406.5112.281153.37 0.58 2185.85 4.07  | 3859.0960.744948.6568.661406.5112.281153.37 0.58 2185.85 4.07  | 3859.0960.744948.6568.661406.5112.281153.37 0.58 2185.85 4.07  | 3859.0960.744948.6568.661406.5112.281153.37 0.58 2185.85 4.07  |
| Tripura       | 4.14                                                           | 1.03                                                           | 4.37                                                           | 1.54                                                           | 1.28                                                           | 0.32                                                           | 1.78                                                           | 0.00                                                           | 2.36                                                           | 0.08                                                           |
| Telangana     | 928.78                                                         | 3.18                                                           | 830.36                                                         | 3.23                                                           | 399.97                                                         | 0.47                                                           | 320.01                                                         | 0.06                                                           | 607.48                                                         | 0.68                                                           |
| Uttar Pradesh | 2850.8037.815358.5547.45 861.22 8.91 1097.08 0.45 3179.14 6.49 | 2850.8037.815358.5547.45 861.22 8.91 1097.08 0.45 3179.14 6.49 | 2850.8037.815358.5547.45 861.22 8.91 1097.08 0.45 3179.14 6.49 | 2850.8037.815358.5547.45 861.22 8.91 1097.08 0.45 3179.14 6.49 | 2850.8037.815358.5547.45 861.22 8.91 1097.08 0.45 3179.14 6.49 | 2850.8037.815358.5547.45 861.22 8.91 1097.08 0.45 3179.14 6.49 | 2850.8037.815358.5547.45 861.22 8.91 1097.08 0.45 3179.14 6.49 | 2850.8037.815358.5547.45 861.22 8.91 1097.08 0.45 3179.14 6.49 | 2850.8037.815358.5547.45 861.22 8.91 1097.08 0.45 3179.14 6.49 | 2850.8037.815358.5547.45 861.22 8.91 1097.08 0.45 3179.14 6.49 |
| Uttarakhand   | 356.10                                                         | 1.51                                                           | 375.86                                                         | 1.52                                                           | 70.05                                                          | 0.41                                                           | 194.34                                                         | 0.09                                                           | 546.43                                                         | 0.62                                                           |
| West Bengal   | 856.57                                                         | 16.17                                                          | 923.66                                                         | 16.56                                                          | 288.42                                                         | 4.63                                                           | 243.26                                                         | 0.35                                                           | 845.42                                                         | 10.37                                                          |
| Ladakh        | 0.00                                                           | 0.00                                                           | 2.41                                                           | 0.39                                                           | 0.07                                                           | 0.01                                                           | 3.03                                                           | 0.01                                                           | 5.10                                                           | 0.21                                                           |
| Total         | 18537.9288.523219.8314.1 6102.2 71.7 6776.3 10.5 17310.1 85.9  | 18537.9288.523219.8314.1 6102.2 71.7 6776.3 10.5 17310.1 85.9  | 18537.9288.523219.8314.1 6102.2 71.7 6776.3 10.5 17310.1 85.9  | 18537.9288.523219.8314.1 6102.2 71.7 6776.3 10.5 17310.1 85.9  | 18537.9288.523219.8314.1 6102.2 71.7 6776.3 10.5 17310.1 85.9  | 18537.9288.523219.8314.1 6102.2 71.7 6776.3 10.5 17310.1 85.9  | 18537.9288.523219.8314.1 6102.2 71.7 6776.3 10.5 17310.1 85.9  | 18537.9288.523219.8314.1 6102.2 71.7 6776.3 10.5 17310.1 85.9  | 18537.9288.523219.8314.1 6102.2 71.7 6776.3 10.5 17310.1 85.9  | 18537.9288.523219.8314.1 6102.2 71.7 6776.3 10.5 17310.1 85.9  |

Source: States/UTs Department Tourism *********

## ANNEXURE-II

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (c)  &  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†127 ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023 REGARDING SPECIAL SCHEMES TO INCREASE RELIGIOUS TOURISM BY SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT.

List of projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme are as follows:

(Rs. In Crore)

| State/UT          |   S. No. | Project Name                                                                               | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost |
|-------------------|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|                   |        1 | Development of Amaravati Town, Guntur District as a Tourist Destination**                  | 2015-16         |           27.77 |
| Andhra            |        2 | Development of Srisailam Temple**                                                          | 2017-18         |           43.08 |
| Pradesh           |        3 | Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Swami Vari Devasthanam at Simhachalam in Vishakhapatnam Temple | 2022-23         |           54.04 |
| Arunachal Pradesh |        4 | Development of Parshuram Kund, Lohit Distt.                                                | 2020-21         |           37.88 |
| Assam             |        5 | Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati. **       | 2015-16         |           29.8  |
|                   |        6 | Development at Patna Sahib**                                                               | 2015-16         |           41.54 |
| Bihar             |        7 | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple, Gaya, Bihar**                         | 2014-15         |            4.27 |
| Chhattisgarh      |        8 | Development of Maa Bamleshwari Devi Temple, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon District, Chhattisgarh | 2020-21         |           43.33 |
|                   |        9 | Development of Dwarka**                                                                    | 2016-17         |           13.08 |
|                   |       10 | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Somnath**                                           | 2016-17         |           45.36 |
|                   |       11 | Development of Promenade at Somnath**                                                      | 2018-19         |           47.12 |
| Gujarat           |       12 | Development of Pilgrim Plaza with Queue management complex at Somnath Gujarat              | 2021-22         |           49.97 |
|                   |       13 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at Ambaji Temple, Banaskantha, Gujarat                | 2022-23         |           50    |
| Haryana           |       14 | Development of Mata Mansa and Nada Saheb Gurudwara Devi Temple in Panchkula District       | 2019-20         |           48.53 |
| Jammu and Kashmir |       15 | Development at Hazratbal Shrine, Srinagar                                                  | 2016-17         |           40.46 |

| State/UT    |   S. No. | Project Name                                                                                                             | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost |
|-------------|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Jharkhand   |       16 | Development of Baba Baidyanath Dham, Deoghar**                                                                           | 2018-19         |           39.13 |
| Karnataka   |       17 | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple, Mysuru                                            | 2023-24         |           45.71 |
| Kerala      |       18 | Development at Guruvayur Temple**                                                                                        | 2016-17         |           45.19 |
| Madhya      |       19 | Development of Amarkantak                                                                                                | 2020-21         |           49.99 |
| Pradesh     |       20 | Development of Omkareshwar**                                                                                             | 2017-18         |           43.93 |
| Maharashtra |       21 | Development of Trimbakeshwar, Nashik                                                                                     | 2017-18         |           52.92 |
| Meghalaya   |       22 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation in Meghalaya                                                                      | 2020-21         |           29.32 |
| Mizoram     |       23 | Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage and Heritage Tourism in the State of Mizoram                                | 2022-23         |           44.89 |
| Nagaland    |       24 | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure in Nagaland                                                                     | 2018-19         |           25.26 |
| Nagaland    |       25 | Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure at Zunheboto                                                            | 2022-23         |           18.18 |
| Odisha      |       26 | Infrastructure Development at Puri, Shree Jagannath Dham - Ramachandi - Prachi River front at Deuli under Mega Circuit # | 2014-15         |           50    |
| Punjab      |       27 | Development of Karuna Sagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar**                                                                  | 2015-16         |            6.4  |
| Punjab      |       28 | Development of Chamkaur Sahib at Rupar, Punjab                                                                           | 2021-22         |           31.57 |
| Rajasthan   |       29 | Integrated Development of Pushkar/Ajmer                                                                                  | 2015-16         |           32.64 |
| Sikkim      |       30 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Four Patron Saints, Yuksom                                                     | 2020-21         |           33.32 |
|             |       31 | Development of Kanchipuram**                                                                                             | 2016-17         |           13.99 |
| Tamil Nadu  |       32 | Development of Velankanni**                                                                                              | 2016-17         |            4.86 |
|             |       33 | Development of Jogulamba Devi Temple, Alampur                                                                            | 2020-21         |           36.73 |
| Telangana   |       34 | Development of Pilgrimage and Heritage Tourism Infrastructure at Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Mulugu                    | 2022-23         |           62    |
| Telangana   |       35 | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure at Bhadrachalam, Bhadradri Kothagudem                                           | 2022-23         |           41.38 |

| State/UT    | S. No.   | Project Name                                                                         | Sanction Year   | Approved Cost   |
|-------------|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|             |          | District                                                                             |                 |                 |
| Tripura     | 36       | Development of Tripura Sundari Temple, Udaipur                                       | 2020-21         | 37.80           |
|             | 37       | Development of Varanasi -Phase -I**                                                  | 2015-16         | 18.72           |
|             | 38       | Development of Mathura-Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II) **                  | 2014-15         | 10.98           |
| Uttar       | 39       | River Cruise Tourism in Ganga, Varanasi**                                            | 2017-18         | 9.02            |
| Pradesh     | 40       | Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan**                           | 2014-15         | 9.36            |
|             | 41       | Development of Varanasi - Phase II**                                                 | 2017-18         | 44.60           |
|             | 42       | Development of Infrastructure facilities at Govardhan                                | 2018-19         | 39.74           |
|             | 43       | Integrated Development of Kedarnath**                                                | 2015-16         | 34.77           |
| Uttarakhand | 44       | Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage Facilitation in Badrinath Ji Dham       | 2018-19         | 56.15           |
|             | 45       | Augmentation of Pilgrimage Infrastructure Facilities and Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham | 2021-22         | 54.36           |
| West Bengal | 46       | Development of Belur Math                                                            | 2016-17         | 30.03           |
|             |          | Total                                                                                |                 | 1629.17         |

** Projects completed # Project Declared completed to the extent work done.

*******