Lok Sabha Question No. 1795 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-10
Subject: Tourism Development in Kerala
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1795 ANSWERED ON 10.03.2025

## TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN KERALA

## 1795. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  special  funds  likely  to  be  allocated  by  the Government for tourism infrastructure development in Kerala State, considering its high tourism potential;
- (b) the  details  of  the  central  schemes,  if  any,  supporting  eco-tourism projects in said State, especially in forest reserves and backwaters;
- (c) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote pilgrimage tourism in said State, especially for Sabarimala and other major religious sites;
- (d) whether the Government has any proposal to include more heritage sites  from  said  State  in  UNESCO's  World  Heritage  list,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has any specific schemes to boost Ayurveda-based medical tourism in Kerala, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the  details  of  financial  assistance  provided  by  the  Government  to said  State  under  the  'Swadesh  Darshan'  and  'PRASHAD'  schemes during the last five years, year-wise?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM            (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (f):   Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including eco-tourism, religious tourism & Ayurveda-based medical tourism is undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration.

The  Ministry  complements  the  efforts  of  States/UTs  by  developing  and promoting various tourism products of the country, including eco-tourism, religious tourism & Ayurveda-based medical tourism in the state of Kerala through various schemes and initiatives.

Ministry of Tourism under the schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan' and ' National

Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual  Heritage  Augmentation Drive  (PRASHAD)'  provides  financial  assistance  to  State  Governments/ Union  Territory  Administrations  for  the  development  of  tourism  related infrastructure and facilities at various tourism destinations in the country including in eco tourism and religious sites of Kerala.

In 2016-17, under the Spiritual Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme a  project  for  'Development  of  Sabarimala -  Erumeli-PampaSannidhanam' was sanctioned for a cost of Rs.46.54 Crore.

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  SD  2.0 Scheme  a project for development of 'Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Experience' has been sanctioned for a cost of Rs.13.92 Cr ore.

Under  the  Special  Assistance  to  States  for  Capital  Investment  (SASCI Scheme) - Development of Iconic Tourist Centers to Global Scale (SASCI) Scheme  a  project  for  development  of  ' Ashtamudi  Biodiversity  and  Ecorecreational Hub in Kollam' has been sanctioned by Government of India at a cost of Rs.59.71 Crore.

Details  of  funds  allocated  to  the  State  of  Kerala  under  the  Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD Schemes including projects for development of eco tourism and religious sites are Annexed.

As conveyed by the Archaeological Survey of India, as of now, there are 3 properties  from  Kerala  in  the  tentative  list  of  World  Heritage  Site.  The names of those are as follows:

- i.
- Mattanchery Palace, Ernakulam,
- ii. Padmanabhapuram Palace and
- iii. Si tes of Satyagrah, India's  non -violent  freedom  movement (Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi)

Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  various  destinations  and  products  of  the country in a holistic manner including Ayurveda-based medical tourism in Kerala through various initiatives under its Schemes  of 'Domestic Promotion & Publicity including Hospitality' (DPPH) and 'Overseas Promotion & Publicity (OPP )'. e-Ayush Visa and e-Ayush Attendant Visa have been included as e-visa categories for facilitation of Ayurvedabased  medical  tourists. e-Visa  scheme  is  now  available  to  the  nationals of 167  countries. e-Visa  is  valid  for  entry  through 31  designated  Airports and 6 designated seaports.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.1795  ANSWERED  ON  10.03.2025  REGARDING  TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN KERALA RAISED BY SHRI BENNY BEHANAN

## Details  of  Projects  sanctioned  under  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  in  the State of Kerala

|   S. No. | Circuit           | Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                                              |   Amount Sanctioned (₹ Cr ore) |   Amount Released/ Authorized* (₹ Crore) |
|----------|-------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Eco Circuit       | 2015-16         | Development of Pathanamthitta- Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady                                                                           |                          64.08 |                                    64.08 |
|        2 | Spiritual Circuit | 2016-17         | Development of Sabarimala - Erumeli- Pampa-Sannidhanam                                                                           |                          46.54 |                                    33.39 |
|        3 | Spiritual Circuit | 2016-17         | Development of Sree Padmanabha Arnamula                                                                                          |                          78.08 |                                    73.77 |
|        4 | Rural Circuit     | 2018-19         | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project                                                                            |                          57.35 |                                    45.88 |
|        5 | Spiritual Circuit | 2018-19         | Development of Sivagiri Sree Narayana Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara SreeSubrahmania- ChembazhanthiSree Narayana Gurukulam |                          66.42 |                                    42.01 |

## List of sanctioned projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 in the State of Kerala

|   S. No. | Destination   | Name of the Experience              |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ Crore) | Date of Sanction   |
|----------|---------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------|
|        1 | Kumarakom     | Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Experience |                       13.92 | 05-03-2024         |

## List of sanctioned projects under PRASHAD Scheme in the State of Kerala

|   S. No. | Project Name                    | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost (₹ Crore) |   Amount Released (₹ Crore) |
|----------|---------------------------------|-----------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|
|        1 | Development at Guruvayur Temple | 2016-17         |                     45.19 |                       45.19 |

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