Lok Sabha Question No. 146 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: New Tourism Policy
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: SAUGATA ROY, B.V. NAYAK, N.K. PREMACHANDRAN, CHANDU LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.146 ANSWERED ON 25.04.2016

## NEW TOURISM POLICY

146.  SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

SHRI B.V. NAIK:

SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to formulate a new tourism policy in the country to promote heritage tourism;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  salient  features of  the policy;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to introduce single window clearance for tourism promotion and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the Government  proposes  to start new  tourism projects  with  the  participation  of  State  Governments  and private  sector  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  State/UT-wise along with the steps taken by the Government to encourage trade  at  tourist  places,  State/UT-wise  including  the State  of Chhattisgarh; and
- (e) whether the Government has received proposals from various State  Governments  including  West  Bengal  and  Kerala  for promotion  of  tourism  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the status of such proposals?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): The Ministry of Tourism has formulated a draft National Tourism  Policy  for  the  overall  development  and  promotion  of tourism in the country including the various tourism products such as  heritage  tourism,  amongst others.   The  salient  features of  the Policy include:

-  Focus on Employment Generation and Community Participation in tourism development.
-  Stress  on  development  of  tourism  in  a sustainable  and responsible manner.
-  An all-encompassing policy involving linkages with various Ministries, Departments, States/Union Territories and Stakeholders.
-  Development and promotion of the varied tourism products of the country.
-  Includes  aspects  of  Swachhta  (cleanliness),  Suraksha (safety) and Swagat (welcome).
-  Development  of  core  infrastructure  as  well  as  Tourism Infrastructure.
- 
- Emphasis on skill development across all segments.
-  Emphasis on technology enabled development in tourism.
-  Focus on promotions in established source markets and potential markets.
- 
- A more pro-active role at multilateral tourism fora.
- 
- Emphasis on Market Research and Intelligence.
- (c):   There is no such proposal.  For all promotion works which are undertaken  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  presently,  clearances  and approvals  are  accorded  at  different  levels  of  Ministry  including overseas and domestic offices, as follows:
- (i) Ministry of Tourism, as part of  its on-going promotional activities, releases  print,  electronic,  online  and  outdoor media  campaigns  in the international and domestic markets, under the Incredible India brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country.
- (ii) A  series  of  promotional  activities  are  undertaken  in important and potential tourist generating markets overseas and within the country through the Indiatourism Offices  (Overseas  and  Domestic)  with  the  objective  of showcasing  India's tourism potential and increasing tourist arrivals to the country. These include participation  in  travel  fairs  and  exhibitions;  organising

road shows, 'Know India' seminars & workshops; organizing and supporting Indian food and cultural festivals; publication of brochures; offering joint advertising  and  brochure  support  and  inviting  media personalities, tour operators and opinion makers to visit the  country  under  the  Hospitality  Programme  of  the Ministry.

(d) & (e): The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) has launched two schemes  in  2014-15 namely, Swadesh  Darshan  for Integrated Development  of  Tourist  Circuits  around  Specific  Themes  and  the National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) to beautify and improve the amenities and infrastructure at pilgrim centres.

Under  these  Schemes,  the Ministry of Tourism provides Central  Financial  Assistance  (CFA)  to  State  Governments/Union Territory  Administrations  for  various  tourism  projects  subject  to availability  of  funds,  liquidation  of  pending  utilization  certificates against the funds released earlier, submission of suitable Detailed Project Report (DPR) and  adherence to the relevant  scheme guidelines. The  State/UT  wise  details  of  project  proposals  sanctioned under the schemes of Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD including the States  of  Chhattisgarh,  West  Bengal  and  Kerala  are  given  in  the

Annexure.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (d)  AND  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.146 ANSWERED ON 25.04.2016 REGARDING NEW TOURISM POLICY.

- a) Number  of Projects  and  Amount  Sanctioned under  'Swadesh Darshan Scheme' during 2014-15 & 2015-16.

2014-15

(Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.   | Name of the Circuit       | State             | Name of the Project                                                                                           |   Amount Sanctioned |
|-----------|---------------------------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| 1.        | North- East India Circuit | Arunachal Pradesh | Development of Bhalukpong- Bomdila- Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh                                               |               50    |
| 2.        | Buddhist Circuit          | Bihar             | Construction of Cultural Centre at Bodhgaya, Bihar                                                            |               33.17 |
| 3.        | Coastal Circuit           | Andhra Pradesh    | Development of Kakinada-Hope Island- Konaseema as World class Coastal & Eco Tourism Circuit in Andhra Pradesh |               69.83 |
| Total     | Total                     | Total             | Total                                                                                                         |              153    |

2015-16

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No. | Circuit                  | State   | Name of Project                                                                                                                                                                                 |   Amount Sanctioned |
|-----------|--------------------------|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
|         1 | North East India Circuit | Sikkim  | Development of Tourist Circuit linking Rangpo(entry)-Rorathang- Aritar-Phadamchen - Nathang-Sherathang- Tsongmo- Gangtok- Phodong-Mangan- Lachung-Yumthang- Lachen- Thangu- Gurudongmer-Mangan- |               98.05 |

|    |                          |                | Gangtok-TuminLingee- Singtam (exit) in Sikkim                                                                                                                                                  |       |
|----|--------------------------|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
|  2 | North East India Circuit | Manipur        | Development of Tourist Circuit in Manipur:Imphal- Moirang-Khongjom-Moreh.                                                                                                                      | 89.66 |
|  3 | Desert Circuit           | Rajasthan      | Development of Sambhar Lake Town and other destinations                                                                                                                                        | 63.96 |
|  4 | Eco Circuit              | Uttarakhand    | Integrated Development of Eco-Tourism, Adventure Sports, Associated Tourism related Infrastructure for Development of Tehri Lake & Surroundings as New Destination-District Tehri, Uttarakhand | 80.37 |
|  5 | Tribal Circuit           | Nagaland       | Development of Tribal Circuit Peren- Kohima- Wokha, Nagaland                                                                                                                                   | 97.36 |
|  6 | Coastal Circuit          | Andhra Pradesh | Development of Coastal Tourism Circuit in Sri PottiSriramalu Nellore in Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                         | 60.38 |
|  7 | Wildlife Circuit         | Madhya Pradesh | Development of Wildlife Circuit at Panna- Mukundpur-Sanjay-Dubri- Bandhavgarh-Kanha-Mukki- Pench in Madhya Pradesh                                                                             | 92.22 |
|  8 | Eco Circuit              | Telangana      | Integrated Development of Eco Tourism Circuit in Mahaboobnagar district, Telangana                                                                                                             | 91.62 |
|  9 | Eco Circuit              | Kerala         | Development of Pathanamthitta - Gavi - Vagamon - Thekkady as Eco Tourism Circuit in Idduki and Pathanamthitta Districts in Kerala                                                              | 99.22 |
| 10 | North East               | Mizoram        | Integrated Development of New Eco Tourism under                                                                                                                                                | 94.91 |

|       | India Circuit            |                   | Swadesh Darshan - North East Circuit at Thenzawl& South Zote, District Serchhip and Reiek, Mizoram                                                                                                    |         |
|-------|--------------------------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
| 11.   | North East India Circuit | Arunachal Pradesh | Integrated Development of Adventure Tourism in Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                      |   97.14 |
| 12.   | Wildlife Circuit         | Assam             | Wildlife Circuit of Assam                                                                                                                                                                             |   95.67 |
| 13.   | Coastal Circuit          | Puducherry        | Development of Union Territory of Puducherry as Tourist Circuit under 'Swadesh Darshan' Scheme                                                                                                        |   85.28 |
| 14.   | North East India Circuit | Tripura           | Development of North East Circuit: Agartala - Sipahijala - Melaghar - Udaipur - Amarpur - Tirthamukh - Mandirghat - Dumboor- NarikelKunja -                                                           |   99.59 |
| 15.   | Coastal Circuit          | West Bengal       | Development of Beach Circuit - Udaipur - Digha - Shankarpur - Tajpur - Mandarmani - Fraserganj - Bakkhlai -Henry Island                                                                               |   85.39 |
| 16.   | Tribal Circuit           | Chhattisgarh      | Development of Tribal Tourism Circuit Jashpur- Kunkuri-Mainpat- Ambikapur-Maheshpur- ratanpur-Kurdar- Sarodadadar-Gangrel- Kondagaon- Nathyanawagaon- Jagdalpur-Chitrakoot- Tirthgarh in Chhattisgarh |   99.94 |
| 17.   | Coastal Circuit          | Maharashtra       | Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit                                                                                                                                                                            |   82.76 |
| Total | Total                    |                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 1513.52 |

- b) Number of Projects and Amount Sanctioned under 'PRASAD' Scheme during 2014-15 & 2015-16.

2014-15

(Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.   | State / UT    | Name of the project                                                                                                |   Amount sanctioned |
|-----------|---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| 1.        | Bihar         | Development of Basic Facilities at Vishnupad temple, Gaya                                                          |                4.29 |
| 2.        | Uttar Pradesh | Development of Mathura Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Phase-II).                                               |               14.93 |
| 3.        | Uttar Pradesh | Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan                                                                           |                9.36 |
| 4.        | Odisha        | Infrastructure Development at Puri, Shree JagannathDham-Ramachandi- Prachi River Front at Deuli under Mega Circuit |               50    |
|           |               | Total                                                                                                              |               78.58 |

2015-16

(Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.   | State / UT     | Name of the project                                        | Amount sanctioned   |
|-----------|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| 1.        | Punjab         | Development of KarunaSagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar       | 6.45                |
| 2.        | Rajasthan      | Integrated Development of Pushkar/ Ajmer                   | 40.44               |
| 3.        | Assam          | Development of Kamakhya                                    | 33.98               |
| 4.        | Andhra Pradesh | Development of Amaravati                                   | 28.36               |
| 5.        | Bihar          | Development at Patna Sahib                                 | 41.54               |
| 6.        | Uttar Pradesh  | Development of Varanasi                                    | 20.04               |
| 7.        | Uttarakhand    | Development of Kedarnath                                   | 34.78               |
| 8.        | Bihar          | Development of Basic Facilities at Vishnupad temple, Gaya* |                     |
|           |                | Total                                                      | 205.59              |

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