Lok Sabha Question No. 102 (STARRED), answered on 2016-05-02
Subject: Establishment of MICE
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: DHARMENDRA YADAV, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*102 ANSWERED ON 02.05.2016

## ESTABLISHMENT OF MICE

## †*102. SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the Government  is considering establishment of Meetings,  Incentives,  Conferences,  and  Events  (MICE)-cumcultural centres in various parts of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the extent to which it is likely to assist the tourism development in the country; (c) whether the Government is planning heritage tourism circuits in  the  country  as a  part of  the  Swadesh  Darshan initiative of the Government; (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  plan  prepared  for  creating heritage tourism circuits in the country; and the  details  of  funds  allocated  for  development  of  heritage tourism  circuits  State/UT-wise  and  the  time  by  which  these
- (e) circuits are likely to be started?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.

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STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO.†*102 ANSWERED ON 02.05.2016 REGARDING ESTABLISHEMENT OF MICE.

(a)  &  (b):    India  is  in  a  continuous  process  of  upgrading  its  MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions) facilities.  A large number of Convention Centres are available in India. The important conference centres in the country are at New Delhi, Mumbai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jaipur etc.

Development  and  promotion  of  tourism  and  tourism  related infrastructure  including establishing  MICE  cum  cultural  centres  is the  responsibility  of  the  State  Governments  and  Union  Territory Administrations. The Ministry of Tourism extends Central Financial Assistance  (CFA)  to  the  State  Governments  and  Union  Territory Administrations for developing tourism and tourism related infrastructure  including  Convention  centres,  cultural  centres  etc., under  relevant  schemes  for  projects  submitted  by  them  including funding  for  PPP  projects  under  Large  Revenue  Generating  (LRG) Projects.  However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  does  not  have  any specific  scheme  to  establish  MICE  cum  Cultural  Centres  in  the country.

(c)  to  (e):  The Ministry of Tourism has launched Swadesh Darshan scheme in the financial year 2014-15 with a vision to develop theme based tourist circuits in the country on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner by synergizing efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance employment opportunities.

Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, so far thirteen thematic circuits  have  been  identified  for  development,  namely  North-East India  Circuit,  Buddhist  Circuit,  Himalayan  Circuit,  Coastal  Circuit, Krishna  Circuit,  Desert  Circuit,  Tribal  Circuit,  Eco  Circuit,  Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana  Circuit and Heritage Circuit.

The  Heritage  Tourism Circuit was  launched  in the month  of December 2015.

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