Lok Sabha Question No. 229 (STARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Promotion of Eco-Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: CHANDRAKANT RAGHUNATH PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*229 ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016

## PROMOTION OF ECO-TOURISM

*229. SHRI C.R. PATIL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the Government  has  formulated any scheme  to promote  eco-tourism,  including  tourism  in  Kutch  and  Gir Forests of Gujarat and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether a large number of tourists are visiting Gujarat and the State has  become  one  of the favourite  destinations for tourists; (c) if  so,  the  number  of  tourists,  both  Indian  and  foreigners  who visited the State during the last two years; (d) the  financial  assistance  provided  by  the  Government  for  the development/conservation of tourist places in various States, States/UT-wise; and the road map/plan for development of amenities and facilities
- (e) at tourist places in the States/UTs?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a)  to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.

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STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION NO.*229  ANSWERED  ON  14.03.2016  REGARDING  PROMOTION  OF ECO-TOURISM.

(a): Ministry of Tourism has launched  the  Swadesh  Darshan scheme in the year 2014-15 with a vision to develop theme based tourist circuits on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness  and  sustainability  in  an  integrated  manner  by synergizing efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance employment opportunities.  The  Ministry  has  identified  Eco-Tourism  Circuit  as one  of  the  thirteen  thematic  circuits  for  development  under  this scheme.

(b) and (c): The  details  domestic  and  foreign  tourist  visits  in Gujarat State during the last two years are as under:

|   Year | Domestic    | Foreign   |
|--------|-------------|-----------|
|   2014 | 3,09,12,043 | 2,35,524  |
|   2015 | 3,62,88,463 | 2,84,973  |

(d): The State-wise details of financial assistance provided by the Ministry of Tourism during the last three years are annexed.

(e): Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance for projects identified in consultation with the State Governments/UTs for  development  of  tourist  infrastructure  including  amenities  and facilities  at  tourist  places  under  Swadesh  Darshan  and  National Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual  Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) schemes of the Ministry.

The  projects  are  sanctioned  subject  to  availability  of funds,  liquidation  of  pending  utilization  certificates,  submission  of suitable Detailed Project Report (DPR) and adherence to the scheme guidelines.

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ANNEXURE STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO.*229 ANSWERED ON 14.03.2016 REGARDING PROMOTION OF ECO-TOURISM. State-wise list of projects sanctioned during 12 th  Plan (2012-13, 201314 & 2014-15).

(Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.   | Name of the State   |   No. of Projects |   Amt. Sanctioned |   Amt. Released |
|-----------|---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-----------------|
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh      |                31 |            250.75 |           64.26 |
| 2.        | Arunachal Pradesh   |                35 |            225.48 |           58.89 |
| 3.        | Assam               |                 3 |             35.68 |            2.55 |
| 4.        | Bihar               |                21 |            197.39 |           51.1  |
| 5.        | Chhattisgarh        |                 3 |              9.9  |            2.38 |
| 6.        | Daman & Diu         |                 1 |              7.76 |            1.55 |
| 7.        | Delhi               |                 4 |             82.31 |           19.4  |
| 8.        | Goa                 |                 3 |              9.29 |            2.26 |
| 9.        | Gujarat             |                 1 |              4.87 |            3.89 |
| 10.       | Haryana             |                11 |             16.09 |            4.64 |
| 11        | Himachal Pradesh    |                12 |             64.01 |           24.39 |
| 12        | Jammu and Kashmir   |                42 |            196.11 |           61.36 |
| 13        | Jharkhand           |                 3 |             53.86 |           22.42 |
| 14        | Kerala              |                15 |            112.94 |           33.17 |
| 15        | Karnataka           |                10 |             83.54 |           17.91 |
| 16        | Maharashtra         |                11 |            147.1  |           34.5  |
| 17        | Manipur             |                24 |            325.31 |           50.11 |
| 18        | Meghalaya           |                16 |              0.65 |            0.65 |
| 19        | Mizoram             |                16 |             96.9  |           13.65 |
| 20        | Madhya Pradesh      |                35 |            347.21 |          123.66 |
| 21        | Nagaland            |                32 |            157.59 |           43.02 |
| 22.       | Odisha              |                17 |            130.93 |           25.91 |
| 23.       | Puducherry          |                 1 |             49.46 |            9.8  |
| 24.       | Punjab              |                 6 |             59.16 |           12.42 |
| 25.       | Rajasthan           |                12 |             53.25 |           11.85 |
| 26.       | Sikkim              |                35 |            227.49 |           51.41 |
| 27.       | Tamil Nadu          |                 2 |             20.42 |           11.16 |
| 28.       | Telangana           |                16 |             81.58 |           42.6  |
| 29.       | Uttar Pradesh       |                42 |            199.26 |           46.54 |
| 30.       | Uttarakhand         |                31 |            230.7  |           72.51 |
| 31.       | West Bengal         |                 3 |             46.94 |           23.6  |
| Total     | Total               |               494 |           3523.93 |          943.56 |

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