Lok Sabha Question No. 288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Tourism Promotion Initiatives in Kerala
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.288 ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## TOURISM PROMOTION INITIATIVES IN KERALA

## 288.  SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  tourism  promotion  initiatives  have  disproportionately focused on southern and central Kerala;
- (b) the  details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  for  northern  Kerala  under Swadesh Darshan or related schemes;
- (c) whether Kasaragod has been proposed for inclusion in future tourism circuits; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken/being taken to promote sustainable and community-based tourism in the said district?

## ANSWER

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) to (d): While development and promotion of tourism destinations and products  is  primarily  undertaken  by  the  concerned  State  Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA), Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan (SD), 'Swad esh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)', 'Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), a sub -scheme of  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  scheme'  and  'Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)'  complements  the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country by extending financial assistance to the SGs/UTAs; on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government directions, availability of funds,  inter-se  priority  etc.  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  is  approved  till March, 2026 and presently there is no new proposal under consideration for sanctioning in this scheme.  The  Ministry of Tourism  regularly encourages  the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  to  focus  on sustainable and community based tourism in the country including Kerala.

Government  of  India  under  its  'Special  Assistance  to  States  for Capital  Investment  (SASCI) -Development  of  Iconic  Tourist  Centres  to Global Scale' scheme, has also sanctioned projects in the country with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale.

The  details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  SD,  SD2.0,  CBDD, PRASHAD and SASCI schemes in the state of Kerala is annexed. *****

## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO . 288  ANSWERED  ON  02 . 02 . 2026  REGARDING  TOURISM PROMOTION INITIATIVES IN KERALA BY SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN

Details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  Swadesh  Darshan  (SD),  SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD and SASCI schemes in the state of Kerala:

## (Amount in ₹ Crore)

| Scheme/ Sub- scheme   |   S. No. | Name of the Project/ Experience                                                                                                 | Circuit/ Destination   | Year of sanction   |   Amount sanctioned |
|-----------------------|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
| Swadesh Darshan (SD)  |        1 | Development of Pathanamthitta- Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady                                                                          | Eco Circuit            | 2015-16            |               64.08 |
|                       |        2 | Development of Sabarimala - Erumeli- Pampa-Sannidhanam                                                                          | Spiritual Circuit      | 2016-17            |               46.54 |
|                       |        3 | Development of SreePadmanabha Arnamula                                                                                          | Spiritual Circuit      | 2016-17            |               78.08 |
|                       |        4 | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project                                                                           | Rural Circuit          | 2018-19            |               57.35 |
|                       |        5 | Development Sivagiri Sree Narayana Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara Sree Subrahmania- Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam | Spiritual Circuit      | 2018-19            |               66.42 |
| SD2.0                 |        6 | Alappuzha: A Global Water Wonderland                                                                                            | Alappuzha              | 2024-25            |               93.18 |
|                       |        7 | Enhancement of Tourist Experience at Malampuzha Garden and Leisure Park                                                         | Malampuzha             | 2024-25            |               75.87 |
|                       |        8 | Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Experience                                                                                             | Kumarakom              | 2023-24            |               13.81 |
| CBDD                  |        9 | Varkala-Dakshin Kashi (under Culture& Heritage category)                                                                        | Varkala                | 2024-25            |               25    |

|         |   10. | Thalassery: The Spritiual Nexus (under Spiritual Tourism category)   | Thalassery   | 2024-25   |   25.00 |
|---------|-------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|-----------|---------|
| SASCI   |    11 | Ashtamudi Biodiversity and Eco- recreational Hub in Kollam           | Kollam       | 2024-25   |   59.71 |
|         |    12 | Global Gateway to Malabar's Cultural Crucible in Sargaalayaa         | Sargaalayaa  | 2024-25   |   95.34 |
| PRASHAD |    13 | Development at Guruvayur Temple                                      | Guruvayur    | 2016-17   |   45.19 |

*********