Lok Sabha Question No. 1373 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Tourism Infrastructure Development
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dr. D Ravi Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1373 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

1373.  DR. D RAVI KUMAR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that domestic tourist visits reached 1.62  billion  in  2023,  showing  strong  recovery  post-pandemic,  while foreign tourist arrivals touched 9.2 million in 2024;
- (b) the details of the tourism infrastructure projects sanctioned under the Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  and  PRASHAD  schemes,  during  2023 -25, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether any assessment  has  been  conducted  on  employment generation  in  the  tourism  sector,  which  currently  supports  over  80 million jobs; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken to improve safety, digital ticketing, lastmile connectivity and sustainable tourism practices in major destinations?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM            (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a): The Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) and Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during 2023 and 2024 are given below:

(in Million)

|   Year |    DTVs |   FTAs |
|--------|---------|--------|
|   2023 | 2508.82 |   9.51 |
|   2024 | 2948.19 |   9.95 |

Source: State/UT Tourism Departments and Bureau of Immigration

(b): The details of Sanctioned projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD schemes during 2023-24 and 2024-25 are given in the Annexure.

(c): As  per  the  estimates  of  the  Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS), Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation  (MoSPI),  tourism employment during 2023 -24 was 84.63 million.

(d): Safety  and  security  of  tourists  is  primarily  a  State  Government subject. However, the Ministry of Tourism has been continuously taking up the matter with all the State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations for setting up of dedicated Tourism Police. With the efforts of  Ministry  of  Tourism,  the  State  Governments  /UT  Administrations  of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan,  Sikkim,  Telangana  and  Uttar  Pradesh  have  deployed  tourist police, in one form or the other.

The Ministry has launched the revamped version of Incredible India Digital  Platform  (IIDP)  as  a  comprehensive  resource  for  travellers  and stakeholders interested in  exploring  the  country's  rich  cultural  heritage, natural beauty, and diverse attractions. The portal has also partnered with several OTAs (Online Travel Agents) and stakeholders for seamless booking of flights, hotels, cabs, and buses and tickets for ASI monuments.

Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan(SD)', Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), 'Challenge Based Destination Development  (CBDD)'  a  subscheme  of  Swadesh  Darshan,  'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development' schemes  (ACA)  is complementing  the  efforts  of  tourism  infrastructure development by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations. In addition, Government of India under its initiative for 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)' has  also  provided  financial  assistance  to  the  States  for  development  of tourism  projects.  In  some  of  the  projects,  last  mile  connectivity  is  also undertaken as a component.

Further, the Ministry of Tourism has formulated the National Strategy for  Sustainable  Tourism  and  initiated  the  Travel  for  LiFE  programme  to promote  sustainable  tourism  practices  among  travellers  and  tourism businesses.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY OF PART (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1373 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 REGARDING TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT RAISED BY DR. D RAVI KUMAR

The  details  of  sanctioned  projects  under  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  scheme during 2023-24 and 2024-25:

|   S. No. | State/UT          | Year of Sanctio n   | Destination       | Name of the Experience                                                |   Sanctione d Cost (₹ Cr ore) |   Amount Authorize d (₹ Crore) |
|----------|-------------------|---------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh    | 2024- 25            | Bapatala          | Development of Suryalanka Beach Experience                            |                         97.52 |                           9.75 |
|        2 | Andhra Pradesh    | 2023- 24            | Araku- Lambasingi | Borra Cave Experience at Araku                                        |                         29.88 |                           2.99 |
|        3 | Arunachal Pradesh | 2023- 24            | Nacho             | Unlock Nacho Expedition                                               |                         14.02 |                           1.4  |
|        4 | Arunachal Pradesh | 2023- 24            | Mechuka           | Mechuka Cultural Haat                                                 |                         18.48 |                           1.85 |
|        5 | Arunachal Pradesh | 2023- 24            | Mechuka           | Mechuka Adventure Park                                                |                         12.75 |                           1.28 |
|        6 | Assam             | 2023- 24            | Kokrajhar         | Kokrajhar Wetland Experience                                          |                         26.67 |                           2.66 |
|        7 | Assam             | 2023- 24            | Jorhat            | Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate                                      |                         23.88 |                           2.39 |
|        8 | Bihar             | 2024- 25            | Bodh Gaya         | Development of the Buddhist Meditation & Experience Centre, Bodh Gaya |                        165.44 |                          16.54 |
|        9 | Chhattisgarh      | 2024- 25            | Kawardha          | Bhoramdeo Corridor                                                    |                        145.99 |                          14.59 |

|    |                                      |          |                                        | Development, Kabirdham District                                        |        |      |
|----|--------------------------------------|----------|----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|------|
| 10 | Dadra Nagar & Haveli and Daman & Diu | 2024- 25 | Daman                                  | Daman Convention Centre                                                | 147.13 | 0    |
| 11 | Goa                                  | 2023- 24 | Porvorim                               | Porvorim Creek Experience                                              |  24.07 | 2.4  |
| 12 | Goa                                  | 2023- 24 | Colva                                  | Colva Beach Experience                                                 |  19.89 | 1.99 |
| 13 | Haryana                              | 2024- 25 | Panchkula                              | Development of Adventure Tourism Hub at Tikkar Taal and Adventure Park |  26.68 | 2.67 |
| 14 | Haryana                              | 2024- 25 | Panchkula                              | Rejuvenation of Yadavindra Garden                                      |  65.82 | 6.58 |
| 15 | Himachal Pradesh                     | 2024- 25 | Maa Chintpurni Temple (District - Una) | Development of Maa Chintpurni Devi Temple, Una                         |  56.26 | 5.63 |
| 16 | Karnataka                            | 2023- 24 | Hampi                                  | Setting up of 'Traveller nooks'                                        |  25.64 | 2.56 |
| 17 | Karnataka                            | 2023- 24 | Mysuru                                 | Tonga ride Heritage experience zone                                    |   2.72 | 0.27 |
| 18 | Karnataka                            | 2023- 24 | Mysuru                                 | Ecological Experience Zone                                             |  18.48 | 1.85 |
| 19 | Kerala                               | 2023- 24 | Kumarakom                              | Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Experience                                    |  13.81 | 1.38 |

|   20. | Kerala         | 2024- 25   | Alappuzha              | Alappuzha: A Global Water Wonderland                                    |   93.18 |   9.32 |
|-------|----------------|------------|------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|--------|
|    21 | Kerala         | 2024- 25   | Malampuzha             | Enhancement of Tourist Experience at Malampuzha Garden and Leisure Park |   75.87 |   7.59 |
|    22 | Ladakh         | 2023- 24   | Leh                    | Julley Leh Biodiversity Park                                            |   23.17 |   2.32 |
|    23 | Ladakh         | 2023- 24   | Kargil                 | Exploring LOC and Hundarman village Experience                          |   11.91 |   1.19 |
|    24 | Lakshadweep    | 2024- 25   | Bangaram               | Enhancemen t of Tourist Experience at Bangaram                          |   81.18 |   8.12 |
|    25 | Madhya Pradesh | 2023- 24   | Gwalior                | Phoolbagh Experience Zone                                               |   16.74 |   1.67 |
|    26 | Madhya Pradesh | 2023- 24   | Chitrakoot             | Spiritual experience at Chitrakoot                                      |   27.21 |   2.72 |
|    27 | Madhya Pradesh | 2024- 25   | Pitambara Peeth, Datia | Development of Pitambara Peeth Datia                                    |   44.24 |   4.42 |
|    28 | Maharashtra    | 2023- 24   | Pune                   | Shivsrushti Historical Theme Park- Phase 3                              |   76.22 |   7.62 |
|    29 | Meghalaya      | 2023- 24   | Sohra                  | Waterfall Trails Experience                                             |   27.6  |   2.76 |
|    30 | Meghalaya      | 2023- 24   | Sohra                  | Meghalayan Age Cave Experience                                          |   32.45 |   3.25 |
|    31 | Mizoram        | 2024- 25   | Champhai               | Eco Resort Experience at                                                |   38.85 |   3.89 |

|    |            |          |                 | Keilungliah, Zote, Ngur & Mualbuhvum, Champhai                |       |      |
|----|------------|----------|-----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|-------|------|
| 32 | Mizoram    | 2024- 25 | Champhai        | Heritage and Cultural Centre, Champhai                        | 33.87 | 3.39 |
| 33 | Mizoram    | 2025- 26 | Thingsulthli ah | Construction of Conference Centre                             | 99.71 | 9.96 |
| 34 | Nagaland   | 2023- 24 | Chumoukedi ma   | Eco-Tourism Exp at Chumoukedi ma viewpoint                    |  7.87 | 0.79 |
| 35 | Nagaland   | 2023- 24 | Chumuouked ima  | Tribal Cultural Experience at Midway Retreat                  | 21.56 | 2.16 |
| 36 | Nagaland   | 2024- 25 | Chumuouked ima  | Adventure Tourism Experience at Jacob Village, Chumoukedie ma | 32.54 | 3.25 |
| 37 | Puducherry | 2023- 24 | Karaikal        | Karaikal beach and waterfront experience                      | 20.29 | 0    |
| 38 | Punjab     | 2023- 24 | Kapurthala      | Eco Tourism experience at Kanjli wetland                      | 20.06 | 0    |
| 39 | Punjab     | 2023- 24 | Amritsar        | Border Tourism Experience at Attari                           | 25.91 | 2.59 |
| 40 | Rajasthan  | 2023- 24 | Bundi           | Spiritual Experience, Keshavraipat an                         | 21.65 | 2.17 |

|   41. | Rajasthan     | 2024- 25   | Sikar                                  | Development works at Shri Khatu Shyam Ji Temple (Sikar)                |   87.87 |   8.79 |
|-------|---------------|------------|----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|--------|
|    42 | Rajasthan     | 2024- 25   | Karni Mata temple, Bikaner dist.       | Development Works at Shri Karni mata mandir, Bikaner                   |   22.58 |   2.26 |
|    43 | Rajasthan     | 2024- 25   | Malaseri Dungari (District - Bhilwara) | Development of Malaseri Dungri, Bhilwara District                      |   48.73 |   4.87 |
|    44 | Sikkim        | 2023- 24   | Gyalshing                              | Eco-Wellness Experience at Yuksom Cluster                              |   15.41 |   1.54 |
|    45 | Sikkim        | 2023- 24   | Gangtok                                | Gangtok Cultural Village                                               |   22.6  |   2.26 |
|    46 | Tamil Nadu    | 2023- 24   | Mamallapura m                          | Immersive experience at Shore Temple                                   |   30.02 |   0    |
|    47 | Telangana     | 2023- 24   | Bhongir                                | Bhongir Fort Experiential Zone                                         |   56.82 |   5.68 |
|    48 | Telangana     | 2023- 24   | Ananathagiri                           | Eco tourism zone at Ananathgiri forest                                 |   38.01 |   3.8  |
|    49 | Tripura       | 2024- 25   | Agartala                               | Tripura Heritage Village & Sangeet Experience at Agartala (Phase-1 &2) |   48.95 |   4.89 |
|    50 | Uttar Pradesh | 2023- 24   | Prayagraj                              | Azad Park and Dekho                                                    |   14.52 |   1.45 |

|              |               |              |               | Prayagraj Trail Exp                       |         |        |
|--------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|-------------------------------------------|---------|--------|
| 51.          | Uttar Pradesh | 2023- 24     | Naimisarany a | Vedic- wellness Experience                |   17.8  |   0    |
| 52.          | Uttarakhand   | 2023- 24     | Pithoragarh   | Rural Tourism Cluster Experience at Gunji |   17.86 |   1.79 |
| 53.          | Uttarakhand   | 2023- 24     | Champawat     | Tea Garden Experience                     |   19.89 |   1.99 |
| TOTAL AMOUNT | TOTAL AMOUNT  | TOTAL AMOUNT | TOTAL AMOUNT  | TOTAL AMOUNT                              | 2208.27 | 197.28 |

## The details of projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme during 2023 to 2025

|   S. No. | State/UT       | Project Name                                                                        | Sanction Year   |   Sanction Amount (₹ Crore) | Amount Released (₹ Crore)   |
|----------|----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh | Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town           | 2024-25         |                       25.33 | 6.74                        |
|        2 | Bihar          | Development of Ambika Bhawani Temple, Saran                                         | 2024-25         |                       13.29 | -                           |
|        3 | Goa            | Development of Bom Jesus Basilica                                                   | 2024-25         |                       16.46 | 4.68                        |
|        4 | Karnataka      | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple, Mysuru       | 2023-24         |                       45.38 | 13.33                       |
|        5 | Karnataka      | Development of Renuka Yallama Devi temple                                           | 2024-25         |                       18.37 | 0.00                        |
|        6 | Karnataka      | Development of Basic Amenities at Papnash Temple, Bidar dist.                       | 2024-25         |                       22.25 | 6.30                        |
|        7 | Mizoram        | Development of Basic Amenities under PRASHAD scheme in Vangchhia, Champhai District | 2024-25         |                        5.47 | 0.00                        |

| 8.   | Puducherry   | Development of Pilgrim Facilites & Tourist attractions for Sri Dharbaranyeswara Temple   | 2024-25   |   25.94 |   0.00 |
|------|--------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|---------|--------|
| 9.   | Tamil Nadu   | Development of 8 Navagraha Temples                                                       | 2024-25   |   40.94 |   0    |
| 10.  | Telangana    | Development of Basic Amenities at goddess Renuka Yellama Devasthanam                     | 2024-25   |    4.22 |   0    |
|      |              | TOTAL AMOUNT                                                                             |           |  217.65 |  31.05 |

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