Lok Sabha Question No. 2516 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Report of Working Group on Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2516 ANSWERED ON 14.12.2015

## REPORT OF WORKING GROUP ON TOURISM

## †2516. SHRI KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  formulating  any  new  scheme  to open new hotels/budget hotels in the country;
- (b) if so, the number of hotels/budget hotels under the administrative  control  of  the  Government  as  well  as  private hotels, State-wise;
- (c) whether Indian tourism sector has a shortage of hotel rooms and if so, the details thereof and the remedial action taken by the Government in this regard along with the funds allocated in this regard;
- (d) whether  the  Government  plans  to  provide  formal  training  to tourist guides and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard to boost tourism in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): India  Tourism  Development  Corporation  (ITDC)  Ltd.  (a Public  Sector  Undertaking  under  the  administrative  control  of  the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) does not have any such plan.

As  per  the  Report  of  the  'Working  Group  on  Tourism'  for  the 12th  five  Year  Plan  (2012-2017)  set  up  by  the  then  Planning Commission (Now Niti Aayog), for a projected annual growth of 12%

in foreign tourist arrivals, the requirement of additional hotel rooms under  classified  category  in  2016  over  2010  is  estimated  to  be 1,90,108 including budget hotel rooms.

Construction of hotels is primarily a private sector activity.  The Ministry of Tourism however, has advised the State Government/ UT Administration  to  follow  tourism  friendly  policies  for  augmenting Hotel  room  supply  like  allotting  land  sites  for  hotels  on  revenue sharing  basis,  granting  extra  Floor  Space  Index  (FSI)/Floor  Area Ratio  (FAR)  for  hotels,  adopt  Single  Window  approach  for  clearing hotel projects, rationalization of taxes.

(d):   The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India  has formulated the guidelines for Selection and Grant of Guide License to Regional Level  Tourist  Guides  (RLG  2011).  As  per  these  guidelines,  the requirement of tourist guides is assessed region-wise, based on the inbound  tourist  arrivals,  number  of  Archaeological  Survey  of  India (ASI) monuments,  available licensed guides, growth potential, availability of assignments to guides and all other relevant factors and is  normally  done  once  in  two  years  by  the  Ministry  through  a pre-defined process.

The process of selection is undertaken by the Indian Institute of  Tourism  &  Travel  Management  (IITTM),  Gwalior  or  any  other Institute designated by the Ministry of Tourism for conducting this process.

The  applications are invited through open  advertisement specifying the seats available for training, region wise.

The selection of candidates for training and issuance of guide license  is  based  on  an  entrance  test  conducted  to  evaluate  the general  intelligence  and  suitability  of  applicants  for  admission  to guide training.  A merit list of all applicants who pass the entrance test is prepared on the basis of aggregated marks.  On the basis of merit  in  the  entrance  test,  the  qualifying  applicant  are  called  for open counselling and document verification.

The admission against available seats is offered strictly on the merit basis subject to fulfillment of all eligibility conditions. Thereafter,  the  candidate  undergoes  the  guide  training  course  for

26  weeks  including  field  training.    At  the  end  of  the  training programme an examination consisting of written test is held.  After passing  written  test,  the  trainees  undergo  a  viva-voce  test  where the guiding skills knowledge of monuments/destinations, communication skills, fluency in foreign language (wherever applicable)  etc.  is  tested.  After  passing  both  the  written  test  and viva-voce, the trainee is eligible for guide training license.

The detailed guidelines for induction of Regional Level Tourist Guides is available on www.tourism.nic.in.

(e): The Ministry of Finance, Government of India has included the following  in  the  'Harmonised  list  of  Infrastructure  Sub-Sectors'  to boost supply of hotel rooms in the country:

- (i). Three  Star  or  higher  category  classified  hotels  located outside cities with population of more than one million.
- (ii).    Hotels  with  the  project  cost  of  more  than  Rs.200.00 crore each in any place in India and of any star rating. This  clause  is  applicable  with  prospective  effect  from 07.10.2013,  the  date  of  notification  and  available  for eligible  prospects  for  three  years  from  the  date  of notification i.e. 07.10.2013, the eligibility cost of Rs.200.00 crore excludes cost of land and lease charges but includes interest during construction.

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