Lok Sabha Question No. 73 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-11-30
Subject: National Tourism Policy
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RANJEET RANJAN, VASANTHI M., DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.73 ANSWERED ON 30.11.2015

## NATIONAL TOURISM POLICY

73. SHRIMATI RANJEET RANJAN: SHRIMATI VASANTHI M.: SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  formulate  a  New Tourism Policy (NTP);
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  criteria  adopted  by  the Government in  this  regard  along  with  the  salient  features  of the policy;
- (c) whether the Government has taken comments of the experts and has consulted people for drafting National Tourism Policy and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  outsourced  the  formulation  of NTP to an external agency; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  formulated  a  draft  National Tourism  Policy  2015  with  the  aim  of  positioning  India  as  a  'Must Experience'  and  'Must  Revisit'  destination  for  global  travellers, whilst encouraging Indians to explore their own country and realise the  potential  of  tourism  as  a  major  engine  for  economic  growth, employment  generation  and  poverty  alleviation  in  a  sustainable, responsible  and  inclusive  framework,  to  the  betterment  of  the community.

(b):  Some  of  the  highlights/salient  features  of  the  draft  National Tourism Policy 2015 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.
-  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  and  decisive  role  at multilateral tourism fora under South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation  (SAARC),  Association  of  Southeast  Asian Nations  (ASEAN),  India,  Brazil and South Africa (IBSA), Brazil,    Russia,  India,  China  and  South    Africa  (BRICS) and others.
-  Emphasis on Market Research and Intelligence.

(c): The Ministry of Tourism held rounds of consultations to obtain inputs for the Policy from overseas tour operators, stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industries, State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, experts, veterans and eminent personalities  in  the  field  of  tourism.  The  draft  Policy  was  also hosted  on  the  official  websites  of  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  for seeking  public comments.    In  addition, as part of the interministerial consultations, the draft Policy was  also  circulated among 33 Central Ministries/Departments for their comments.

(d)& (e): No, Madam.  Does not arise.

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