Lok Sabha Question No. 190 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Strategies to increase Number of International Tourists
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Jugal Kishore, Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya

†

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.

## †190

## ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## STRATEGIES TO INCREASE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

190 SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR: SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA: SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of various marketing and promotional strategies adopted by the Government to increase the number of international tourists to India;
- (b) the impact of adoption of the said strategies in Dahod, Gujarat;
- (c)
- the details of current rate structure for services related to tourism;
- (d) the details of number of projects sanctioned along with the amount of funds  allocated  under  the  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual Augmentation  Drive  (PRASAD)  Scheme  particularly  with  respect  to Gujarat State; and
- (e) the  details  of  various  projects  implemented  in  toto  under  the  said
- scheme till date?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM             (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) & (b): The Ministry of Tourism undertakes various promotional activities in important and potential tourist generating markets in a holistic manner  with  the  objective  of  showcasing  India's  tourism  potential  and promoting tourism to the country, including the state of Gujarat. Details of promotional activities to increase the number of international tourist to the country are as follows:
- i. Participation  in  international  travel  fairs  and  exhibitions  such  as World  Travel  Market  (WTM)  London,  Feria  Internacional  de  Turismo (FITUR) Madrid, International Travel  &  Hospitality  Show  (MITT)
- Moscow, Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) Sydney, Internationale  Tourismusbörse  (ITB)  Berlin,  Arabian  Travel  Market (ATM) Dubai, International Meeting Exchange (IMEX) Frankfurt, International & French Travel Market (IFTM) Top Resa Paris, Japan Expo, Internationale Tourismusbörse Asia (ITB Asia), Singapore etc.
- ii. The  Chalo  India  initiative  has  been  launched  by  the  Ministry  to encourage  the  huge  Indian  diaspora  to  become  Incredible  India ambassadors and encourage their five non-Indian friends to visit India every year.
- iii. A Chalo India portal has been developed for registration of the Indian diaspora.  Further  gratis  e  visa  to  one  lakh  foreign  tourists,  visiting India under the referral program was announced.
- iv. Ministry of Tourism has launched the Incredible India Content Hub on the revamped Incredible India digital portal (www.incredibleindia.gov.in) on 27th September, 2024. The Incredible India  Content  Hub  is  a  comprehensive  digital  repository  of  highquality images, films, brochures and newsletters which can be easily accessed by the industry stakeholders (travel media, tour operators, travel agents) across the globe required to amplify Incredible India in all their marketing and promotional efforts. The revamped Incredible India  Digital  Portal  is  a  tourist-centric,  one-stop  digital  solution designed to enhance the travel experience for visitors to India.
- v. Inviting  media  personalities,  tour  operators  and  opinion  makers  to visit the country under the Hospitality Programme of the Ministry.
- vi. The  promotions  in  the  overseas  countries  are  being  carried  out  in association  with  the  State  Governments  and  the  Indian  Missions including the 20 identified Indian missions.
- (c): Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India  is  not  the  regulatory authority for deciding the rate structure charged by Tourism Stakeholders.

(d) & (e): An  amount  of  Rs.1605.20  crore  was  sanctioned  under  the National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) for 46 projects, including Gujarat is placed at Annexure.

*******

## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (d) & (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †190 ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024 REGARDING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS RAISED BY SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR, SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA AND SHRI JUGAL KISHORE.

## PRASHAD SCHEME

| State/UT          |   S. No. | Project Name                                                                                             | Sanction Year   | Approved Cost   |   Amount Released |
|-------------------|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh    |        1 | Development of Pilgrim Amenities at Amaravati                                                            | 2015-16         | 27.77           |             27.77 |
| Andhra Pradesh    |        2 | Development of Srisailam Temple                                                                          | 2017-18         | 43.08           |             43.08 |
| Andhra Pradesh    |        3 | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Swami Vari Devasthanam at Simhachalam | 2022-23         | 54.04           |             13.69 |
| Arunachal Pradesh |        4 | Development of Parshuram Kund                                                                            | 2020-21         | 37.88           |             21.95 |
| Assam             |        5 | Development of Pilgrimage amenities at Kamakhya Temple                                                   | 2015-16         | 29.80           |             29.8  |
| Bihar             |        6 | Development at Patna Sahib                                                                               | 2015-16         | 29.62           |             29.62 |
| Bihar             |        7 | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple                                                      | 2014-15         | 3.63            |              3.63 |
| Chhattisgarh      |        8 | Development of Pilgrimage amenities at Maa Bamleshwari Devi Temple                                       | 2020-21         | 48 .44          |             32.13 |
|                   |        9 | Development of Dwarka                                                                                    | 2016-17         | 13.08           |             10.46 |
| Gujarat           |       10 | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Somnath                                                           | 2016-17         | 45.36           |             45.36 |
|                   |       11 | Development of                                                                                           | 2018-19         | 47.12           |             47.12 |

|                   |    | Promenade at Somnath                                                                                                |         |       |       |
|-------------------|----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|-------|
|                   | 12 | Development of Pilgrim Plaza with Queue management complex at Somnath Gujarat                                       | 2021-22 | 49.97 |  0    |
|                   | 13 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at Ambaji Temple                                                               | 2022-23 | 50    | 10.54 |
| Haryana           | 14 | Development of Mata Mansa Devi Temple and Nada Saheb Gurudwara                                                      | 2019-20 | 48.53 | 34.68 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 15 | Development at Hazratbal Shrine                                                                                     | 2016-17 | 40.46 | 34.3  |
| Jharkhand         | 16 | Development of Baba Baidya Nath Dham                                                                                | 2018-19 | 36.79 | 34.95 |
| Karnataka         | 17 | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple                                               | 2023-24 | 45.71 |  0    |
| Kerala            | 18 | Development at Guruvayur Temple                                                                                     | 2016-17 | 45.19 | 45.19 |
| Madhya            | 19 | Development of Amarkantak                                                                                           | 2020-21 | 49.99 | 34.73 |
| Pradesh           | 20 | Development of Omkareshwar                                                                                          | 2017-18 | 43.93 | 43.93 |
| Maharashtra       | 21 | Development of Trimbakeshwar                                                                                        | 2017-18 | 42.18 | 29.93 |
| Meghalaya         | 22 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Nongswalia Church, Nartiang Shakti Peeth, Aitnar Pool and Charantala Kali | 2020-21 | 29.29 | 24.92 |
| Mizoram           | 23 | Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage and Heritage Tourism at Chite Vang, Zuangtai, Reiek and Aizawl         | 2022-23 | 44.89 | 13.18 |

| Nagaland   |   24 | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure at Molungkimong, Noksen Church, Aizuto, Wokha and Kohima   | 2018-19   |   25.20 |   21.33 |
|------------|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|---------|---------|
|            |   25 | Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure at Zunheboto                                       | 2022-23   |   18.18 |   10.9  |
| Odisha     |   26 | Infrastructure Development at Puri                                                                  | 2014-15   |   50    |   10    |
| Punjab     |   27 | Development of Karuna Sagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar                                               | 2015-16   |    6.4  |    6.4  |
|            |   28 | Development of Chamkaur Sahib                                                                       | 2021-22   |   31.57 |   17.49 |
| Rajasthan  |   29 | Integrated Development of Pushkar/Ajmer                                                             | 2015-16   |   32.64 |   26.11 |
| Sikkim     |   30 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Four Patron Saints, Yuksom                                | 2020-21   |   33.32 |   28.31 |
|            |   31 | Development of Kanchipuram                                                                          | 2016-17   |   13.99 |   13.99 |
| Tamil Nadu |   32 | Development of Velankanni                                                                           | 2016-17   |    4.86 |    4.86 |
|            |   33 | Development of Jogulamba Devi Temple                                                                | 2020-21   |   38.9  |   33.07 |
| Telangana  |   34 | Development of Pilgrimage and Heritage Tourism Infrastructure at Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple       | 2022-23   |   62    |   12.82 |
|            |   35 | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure at Bhadrachalam                                            | 2022-23   |   41.38 |    8.43 |
| Tripura    |   36 | Development of Tripura Sundari                                                                      | 2020-21   |   34.43 |   25.62 |

|               |       | Temple                                                                                |                 |             |             |
|---------------|-------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------|-------------|
| Uttar Pradesh | 37 38 | Varanasi - Phase - I Development of Mathura-Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II) | 2015-16 2014-15 | 18.73 10.98 | 18.73 10.98 |
|               | 39    | Development of River Cruise Tourism at Varanasi                                       | 2017-18         | 9.02        | 9.02        |
|               | 40    | Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan                              | 2014-15         | 9.36        | 9.36        |
|               | 41    | Development of Varanasi - Phase II                                                    | 2017-18         | 44.60       | 31.77       |
|               | 42    | Development of Infrastructure facilities at Govardhan                                 | 2018-19         | 37.59       | 30.97       |
|               | 43    | Integrated Development of Kedarnath                                                   | 2015-16         | 34.77       | 34.77       |
| Uttarakhand   | 44    | Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage Facilitation in Badrinath Ji Dham        | 2018-19         | 56.15       | 27.43       |
|               | 45    | Augmentation of Pilgrimage Infrastructure Facilities at Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham   | 2021-22         | 54.36       | 10.22       |
| West Bengal   | 46    | Development of Belur Math                                                             | 2016-17         | 30.03       | 23.39       |
|               |       | Total                                                                                 |                 | 1605.20     | 1036.96     |

****