Lok Sabha Question No. 1514 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Safety and Digital Facilities for Tourists in Dahod, Gujarat
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

## †1514.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 1514

## ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## SAFETY AND DIGITAL FACILITIES FOR TOURISTS IN DAHOD, GUJARAT

## SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the special initiatives taken to increase the safety and digital facilities for the tourists at the historical and religious places of Dahod Lok Sabha Constituency;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  set  up  a  'City-Level Convention Promotion Bureau' for organising business conferences in the said Constituency keeping in view its tourism development; and
- (c) the  current  status  of  establishment  of  the  digital  platforms  and integrated visitors facilitation centres to bring the tourist places of the said Constituency on the global map?

## ANSWER

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) to (c): Development and promotion of tourism destinations and products including  handling  of  safety  related  issues  is  primarily  undertaken  by  the concerned  State  Government  (SG)/Union  Territory  Administration  (UTA). However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  through  its  central  sector  schemes  of 'Swadesh  Darshan  (SD),  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  (SD2.0)',  'Challenge  Based Destination Development (CBDD), a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan scheme and  'Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive (PRASHAD)'  scheme  com plements  the  efforts  of  tourism  infrastructure development  in  the  country  by  extending  financial  assistance  to  the SGs/UTAs  on  receipt  of  the  project  proposals  from  the  concerned  State

Government/Union  Territory  Administration  in  synergy  with  the  scheme guidelines, Government directions, availability of funds etc.

Government of India under its 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) -Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale' has also sanctioned projects with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale.

The components sanctioned under the above-mentioned schemes are primarily those related to facilitation of tourists and visitor including digital interventions and may cover those related to tourism core products such as tourist  facilitation  centre,  interpretation  centre,  tourism  activities,  health sanitation  &  safety,  connectivity,  parking,  general  site  development,  soft interventions etc. The Ministry of Tourism has included an illustrative list of components in the scheme guidelines of Swadesh Darshan 2.0.

Ministry of Tourism has formulated guidelines for setting up of MICE Promotion  Bureaus  which  have  been  circulated  to  all  States  and  Union Territories  and  has  also  formulated  a  National  Strategy  and  Roadmap  for MICE Industry to promote the growth of MICE industry in the country. Ministry introduced 'Meet in India' as a specialized sub-brand within the 'Incredible India'  campaign.  This  sub-brand  aims  to  enhance  promotional  initiatives, showcasing India as an appealing MICE destination equipped with top-tier connectivity,  cutting-edge  infrastructure,  a  vibrant  knowledge  hub  and  a plethora of distinctive tourist attractions.

The Ministry has developed a comprehensive Digital MICE Catalogue, highlighting  infrastructure  and  facilities  across  60+  Indian  cities  that successfully hosted G20 meetings during India's presidenc y. This resource catalogue  is  designed  to  support  global  and  national  MICE  planners  in organizing events  in India,  while  promoting  Indian  cities  as  premier destinations on the world stage.

While receiving project proposals under different schemes is part of the process,  presently  there  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  before  the Ministry of Tourism for sanctioning of projects in Gujarat including in Dahod Lok  Sabha  Constituency.  The  details  of  the  project  sanctioned  by  the

## Ministry of Tourism in Gujarat under Swadesh Darshan, CBDD, PRASHAD and SASCI scheme is as under: -

| Scheme/ Sub-scheme                             | Name of the project/ Experience                                                                 | Circuit/ Destination (Category)                    | Year of sanction   |   Sanction Amount (Rupees in Crore) |
|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Swadesh Darshan                                | Development of Ahmedabad- Rajkot- Porbandar - Bardoli- Dandi                                    | Heritage Circuit                                   | 2016-17            |                               59.17 |
| Swadesh Darshan                                | Development of Vadnagar- Modhera                                                                | Heritage Circuit                                   | 2016-17            |                               91.12 |
| Swadesh Darshan                                | Development of Junagadh- Gir Somnath- Bharuch-Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana                 | Buddhist Circuit                                   | 2017-18            |                               26.68 |
| Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) | Transformation of Sharmishtha Lake: Light & Culture                                             | Vadnagar (Culture & Heritage)                      | 2024-25            |                               17.29 |
| Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) | THOL: Transformative Tourism, Harmonious Sustainability, Optimized Skilling, Leading Technology | Thol Village (Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites) | 2024-25            |                                9.96 |
| Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) | The Sacred Ocean Retreat at Harsiddhi Shore                                                     | Porbandar (Spiritual Tourism)                      | 2024-25            |                               24.66 |
| PRASHAD                                        | Development of Dwarka                                                                           | Dwarka                                             | 2016-17            |                               10.46 |
| PRASHAD                                        | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Somnath                                                  | Somnath                                            | 2016-17            |                               45.36 |
| PRASHAD                                        | Development of Promenade at Somnath                                                             | Somnath                                            | 2018-19            |                               47.12 |

| PRASHAD   | Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at Ambaji Temple, Banaskantha, Gujarat   | Banaskantha   | 2022-23   |   50.00 |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|-----------|---------|
| SASCI     | Ecotourism Destination at Kerly (Mokarsagar) in Porbandar                     | Porbandar     | 2024-25   |   99.5  |
| SASCI     | Tented City and Convention Centre in Dhordo                                   | Dhordo        | 2024-25   |   51.56 |

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