Lok Sabha Question No. 2155 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-05
Subject: Coastal Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2155

## ANSWERED ON 05.08.2024

## COASTAL TOURISM

## 2155 SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  efforts  being  made  by  the  Government  for  the development  of  the  Coastal  Circuit  in  Dakshina  Kannada,  Udupi and Uttara Kannada;
- (b) whether the Government would consider development of temples of Dakshina Kannada under the PRASHAD scheme;
- (c) whether  there  are  any  institutionalized  efforts  being  made  to promote tourism in tier-II cities especially beach tourism in coastal Karnataka;
- (d) whether  there  are  any  projects  or  efforts  to  include  any  sites  of Dakshina  Kannada  for  development  under  the  Swadesh  Darshan scheme  and  its  Rural  Circuit,  Spiritual  Circuit,  Heritage  Circuit, Tirthankar Circuit, Eco Circuit, Tribal Circuit; and
- (e) whether  there  is  any  data  pertaining  to  the  potential  of  cruise tourism  in  coastal  Karnataka  with  special  focus  on  Mangalore, plans for the promotion of the same and the funds allocated for the purpose during the last five years?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM          (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (e): The Ministry of Tourism, through its central sector schemes of Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive (PRASHAD)  and  Swadesh  Darshan  (SD)  supports  tourism  infrastructure development by providing financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.

Two destinations viz. Bidar and Udupi are identified for development  under  the  'Challenge  Based  Destination  Development',  a sub-scheme  of  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  and  3  projects  are  sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 in Karnataka. The list is given below:

|   Sr. No. | Destination   | Project/ Interventions Name           |   Cost (Rs. in Crore) |
|-----------|---------------|---------------------------------------|-----------------------|
|         1 | Hampi         | Setting up of 'Traveller Nooks'       |                 26.3  |
|         2 | Mysuru        | 'Tonga Ride Heritage Experience Zone' |                  4.12 |
|         3 | Mysuru        | 'Ecological Experience Zone'          |                 18.36 |

Under PRASHAD Scheme, a project viz. 'Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple' is sanctioned at a cost of  Rs.45.71  crore  in  Karnataka  and  2  sites  are  also  identified  for development  viz.  'Sri  Renuka  Yallamma  Temple,  Saudatti,  Belagavi District' and 'Papnash Temple, Bidar District'.

To harness the potential of cruise tourism, a Task Force has been constituted,  with  Secretary  (Tourism)  as  the  Chairman  and  Secretary (Shipping) as the co-chairman. Various measures are taken for development of cruise tourism like the facility for e-tourist visa has been extended to passengers arriving at major ports, including Mangalore and immigration counters have been set up at selected major ports visited by cruise  ships,  thus  facilitating  the  cruise  passenger  arrivals  at  the seaports. Moreover,  Ministry of  Tourism  promotes  various  tourism destinations and products of India including Cruise Tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism does not maintain any data specific to the potential  of  cruise  tourism  in  Mangalore.  However,  Ministry  of  Ports, Shipping  and  Waterways  has  informed  that  the  New  Mangalore  Port Authority  (NMPA)  in  Karnataka  operates  a  cruise  terminal  for  both international  and  domestic  cruise  vessels  and  it  has  handled  six international cruise vessels, with a tourist arrival of  2,635 passengers at the port in the financial year 2022-23.

In  the  financial year 2023-24, the port handled eight international cruise vessels with a tourist arrival of 4,285 passengers.

In  addition,  it  has  also  been  informed  that  the  Government  has taken initiatives  to  facilitate  the  visits  of  Cruise  vessels  and  tourists, including the following:

- (i) For berthing, cruise vessel is given priority over cargo vessel.
- (ii) rationalised cruise tariff has been introduced
- a. port  charges  are  recovered  @  $0.085/GRT  (fixed  rate)  and  a nominal passenger head tax of $6 for first 12 hours of stay at

berth. Cruise ships are provided discounts ranging from 10% to 30%

- b. based on volume of their calls.
2. (iii) Ousting  charges  have  been  removed  to  attract  cruise  vessels. (iv) E-Visa and on-arrival visa facilities have been extended. (v) Single  e-Landing  Card  has  been  introduced  which  is  valid  for  all ports in cruise itinerary. (vi) Cabotage has been waived for foreign cruise vessels. This relaxation allows foreign cruise ship to transport Indian nationals from one Indian Port to another Indian Port during its domestic leg. In order to promote tourism, conditional IGST exemption has been approved for foreign going vessel when it converts to coastal run, subject  to  its  re-conversion  to  foreign  going  vessel  within  six
3. *******
4. (vii) months.