Lok Sabha Question No. 1311 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-25
Subject: Financial Assistance for Development of Tourism in Rural Areas
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKAR, SANGANNA AMARAPPA KARADI, B.V. NAYAK, HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1311 ANSWERED ON 25.07.2016

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN RURAL AREAS

## 1311. SHRI RAJESH KUMAR DIWAKER:

SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

SHRI B.V. NAIK:

SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  formulate  any  new scheme under the Village Tourism Projects for the development of tourism in the rural areas of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government  in  this  regard  along  with  the  sites  identified  in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposals  from various State Governments for the development and promotion of  rural  tourism,  infrastructure  and  capacity  building  of  rural inhabitants by improving their earning and if so, the status of the said proposals along with the action taken by the Government in this regard, State-wise including Karnataka;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to offer some special offers to foreign tourists for visiting rural areas and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has made special scheme to provide road, rail  and air  linkages  to  such  destinations and if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and (b): The  Ministry  of  Tourism has  launched  a  new plan scheme  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  for  Integrated  Development  of

Theme-Based Tourist Circuits in the year 2014-15. Rural Circuit is one  of  the  thirteen  thematic  circuits  identified  for  development under the scheme. (c): The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance to  State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations  for  various tourism projects including the components of capacity building and infrastructure development of rural destinations subject to availability  of  funds,  liquidation  of  pending  utilization  certificates against the funds released earlier, submission of suitable detailed project report and adherence to the relevant scheme guidelines. No project  has  been  sanctioned  under  the  Rural  Circuit  theme  of Swadesh Darshan scheme. (d): To promote various tourism destinations and products of the country including rural tourism products, the Ministry of Tourism, as part  of  its  on-going  activities,  annually  releases  print,  electronic, online  and  outdoor  media  campaigns  in  the  international  and domestic markets, under the Incredible India brand-line. In addition, a series of promotional activities are undertaken in important and potential tourist generating markets overseas through  the  India  tourism  Offices  abroad  with  the  objective  of showcasing India's tourism potential.

(e): For improvement of connectivity in the circuit, central financial assistance is provided under the Swadesh Darshan scheme for the components like; last mile connectivity, heliports, helipads, procurement  of equipment  for ecofriendly modes  of tourist transport etc.

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