Lok Sabha Question No. 2693 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Initiatives to Boost Tourism in Nature Rich Areas of Maharashtra
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Tatkare Sunil Dattatrey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2693 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## INITIATIVES TO BOOST TOURISM IN NATURE

## RICH AREAS OF MAHARASHTRA

## 2693. SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  to  boost tourism  in  nature  rich  areas  of  Maharashtra  such  as  Raigad  and Ratnagiri districts areas;
- (b) the details of the steps taken to develop and conserve key natural and heritage assets in these districts;
- (c) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  to  ensure  sustainable  tourism  and provide alternate livelihood/training to local communities (homestays, guides, craft/food);
- (d) the current status of the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme in Maharashtra; and
- (e) whether the Government plans to develop any sites for tourism in Maharashtra, particularly in the Raigad and Ratnagiri areas, if so, the
- details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (e): Development  and  promotion  of  tourism  destinations  in  the country  is  primarily  done  by  the  concerned  State  Government  (SG)/UT Administration  (UTA).  However,  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  its  various schemes  such  as Swadesh  Darshan,  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0 (SD2.0); Challenge  Based  Destination  Development  (CBDD),  an  initiative  under Swadesh Darshan; Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)  etc.  provides  financial  assistance  for development of tourism infrastructure and experiences in the country to the

SGs/UTAs on receipt of the project proposals from them, in synergy with the scheme  guidelines,  Government  directions,  availability  of  funds,  inter-se priority etc. A range of components which may enhance tourism facilitation at the destinations are considered for sanctioning, as per project requirement  including  those  related  to  tourism  core  products,  tourism activities, safety, sanitation, connectivity, parking, general site development,  soft  interventions  etc.  Various  aspects  of  sustainability including  environmental  sustainability,  socio-cultural  sustainability  and economic sustainability are embedded in the scheme ideation.

Further,  Ministry  has  released  'National  Strategy  for  sustainable tourism'  which  aims  to  mainstream  sustainability  in  the  Indian  tourism sector and 'National Strategy for Eco -Tourism' with the vision to position India as a preferred destination for ecotourism.

The Ministry also envisaged 'Travel for LiFE (TFL)', a programme for tourism sector under Mission LiFE, to create awareness about sustainable tourism  and  to  nudge  the  tourists  and  tourism  businesses  to  adopt sustainable  practices  synchronous  with  nature.  The  programme  aims  to mainstream sustainability into tourism sector towards developing a sustainable, responsible and resilient tourism sector.

The details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan, SD2.0, CBDD and PRASHAD schemes in the state of Maharashtra is annexed.

Government of India  in  202425  sanctioned  the  projects  'INS -Guldar Underwater Museum, Artificial Reef, and submarine Tourism in Sindhudurg' for  Rs.46.91  Crore  and  'Development  of  RAM -KAL  PATH  in  Nashik'  for Rs.99.14 Crore in Maharashtra under the initiativ e for 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)-Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale' and these projects are at implementation stage.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  put  in  place  the  Scheme  of  "Capacity Building  for  Service  Providers"  (CBSP)  to  provide  education,  training  and certification  to  the  tourism  &  hospitality  service  providers  across  the country including the state of Maharashtra. Ministry of Tourism under the CBSP scheme has trained  135595  persons  in  the  country  including  7554 persons from the state of Maharashtra during the last three years from 202223 to 2024-25.

Further, the Ministry of Tourism during the financial year 2025-26 has launched 'Development of Homestays in Tribal Areas' as a sub -scheme of Swadesh Darshan under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan

(PM-JUGA) for development of homestays in tribal areas. The scheme envisages the development of homestays to tap the tourist potential of the tribal areas and to provide an alternate livelihood to the tribal communities  by  providing  funding  support  up  to  ₹5  lakh  for  village community  requirements,  up  to  ₹5  lakh for  the  construction  of  two  new rooms for each household, and up to ₹3 lakh for the renovation of existing rooms for each household. The  scheme  endeavours  to  promote  community-based  responsible tourism in tribal villages across the country by facilitating cultural exchange between tourists and indigenous communities, thereby offering an authentic tribal rural experience to visitors while ensuring socio-economic benefits to the local population. skill development of local communities, promotion of sustainable and responsible

It also envisages capacity-building interventions, including tourism practices, and marketing support for tribal homestays.

*****

## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2693 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026 REGARDING  INITIATIVES TO BOOST TOURISM IN NATURE RICH AREAS OF MAHARASHTRA RAISED BY SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY

Details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan, SD2.0, CBDD and PRASHAD schemes in the state of Maharashtra

| Scheme          | Name of the project                                                                                                     | Year of Sanction   |   Sanction Amount (Rs. In Crore) |
|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------------------------|
| Swadesh Darshan | Development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit - Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg (Beach & Creek), Mitbhav (coastal circuit) | 2015-16            |                            19.06 |
|                 | Development of Waki- Adasa- Dhapewada- Paradsingha- Telankhandi- Girad (Spiritual Circuit)                              | 2018-19            |                            45.47 |
| SD2.0           | Shivshrusthi Theme Park                                                                                                 | 2024-25            |                            76.22 |
| CBDD            | Development of Ahmednagar Fort                                                                                          | 2024-25            |                            25    |
| PRASHAD         | Development of Trimbakeshwar, Nashik                                                                                    | 2017-18            |                            45.41 |

*****