Lok Sabha Question No. 1310 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Financial Assistance to States for Setting up of Tourism Information Centre
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1310 ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES FOR SETTING

## UP OF TOURISM INFORMATION CENTRE

## 1310.SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce a project to create an awareness among the people living in tourism potential areas to take the tourists in to confidence and present friendly hospitality to them and if so, the details of the action taken thereon;
- (b) the  details  regarding  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  to provide special attention to the tourists;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to introduce any programme to provide  better  facility  to  the  tourists  for  eco-tourism  and  nature friendly tourism and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to provide special arrangements and  protection  to  the  tourists  to  see  local  festivals  and  cultural fairs and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to give financial assistance to the States for setting up tourism information centers with modern features and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) and (b):  The Ministry of Tourism started the Destination  Based Capacity Building programme. The objective of the program is to train, upgrade, sensitize and to bring the services/trainings at the door steps of the local people and service providers residing near tourism sites and destinations  who cannot  afford  to  travel  to  the  cities/towns  to  take training.

Till  now  more  than  12000  candidates  have  been  trained  under  this initiative  and  more  than  150  such  training  has  been  conducted  at various tourist destinations across the country.

(c): To position India as a preferred global destination for sustainable and  responsible  tourism,  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  formulated  National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism. Following strategic pillars have been identified for the development of sustainable tourism:

- i.
- Promoting Environmental Sustainability
- ii. Protecting Biodiversity
- iii. Promoting Economic Sustainability
- iv.
- Promoting Socio-Cultural Sustainability
- v. Scheme for Certification of Sustainable Tourism
- vi. IEC and Capacity Building
- vii. Governance

To  assist  the  Ministry  in  implementation  of  National  Strategy  for Sustainable Tourism, Ministry has designated Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM) as the Central Nodal Agency - Sustainable

Tourism (CNA-ST).

(d): Under the Scheme of Domestic Promotion and Publicity including Hospitality, Ministry  of  Tourism  provides  Central  Financial  Assistance (CFA) up to Rs.50.00 Lakh to State Governments and up to Rs.30 Lakhs to  UT  Administrations  on  the  proposal  of  fairs/  festivals  and  tourism related events (i.e. seminars, conclaves, conventions etc.).

The components covered under the scheme are as under:-

- i.
- Creation of semi-permanent structures.
- ii. Production of posters, pamphlets, advertisement in newspaper and production of film.
- iii. Remuneration of artists.
- iv. Sitting  arrangements,  lighting,  sound,  lodging  &  boarding, transportation, hiring of space and other similar activities.

The  Scheme  Guidelines  do  not  have  any  specific  provision to  provide special arrangement and protection to the tourist to see local festival and cultural fairs.  However,  State  Governments  provide  adequate protection to tourists in their respective jurisdictions.

(e): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  (MoT)    under  the  Schemes  of  'Swadesh Darshan', 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive' PRASHAD  and  'Assistance  to  Central  Agencies'  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. To encourage the State Tourism Departments to take major IT initiatives for  improving  tourist  information  and  facilitation  as  well  as  marketing and publicizing their tourist products, the Ministry of Tourism provides Central  Financial  Assistance  to  the  States  and  UT  Governments  to enable them to adopt wide-spread use of information technology in their tourism products and services, comprising publicity, promotion, marketing, etc. Under this scheme, financial assistance up to 50% of the IT  project  (of  States  or  UTs)  is  given  to  the  State/UT  Governments, restricted to an annual ceiling for each State/UT, which would be 90% of the total project cost or Rs.50 lakhs, whichever is lower.

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