The Union Tourism Ministry has sanctioned 16 projects in Northeast India region for a total amount of Rs 1337.63 crore under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said in Lok Sabha on Monday.
The ministry under its Swadesh Darshan scheme has sanctioned two projects in Assam, Kishan Reddy said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Identification and development of tourist destinations is primarily the responsibility of the respective state government and Union territory administration.
However, the Tourism Ministry under its Swadesh Darshan scheme provides funds to the state government, Union Territory Administration, Central agencies, etc. for tourism infrastructure development in the country, the minister said.
Meanwhile, Reddy also informed the House that the Tourism Ministry has formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for Development of Rural Tourism in India - An initiative towards Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, which has been circulated to concerned Central Ministries, all State Governments/UT Administrations and Industry Stakeholders.
He said the strategy document focuses on the following key pillars:
i. Model policies and best practices for rural tourism
ii. Digital technologies and platforms for rural tourism
iii. Developing clusters for rural tourism
iv. Marketing support for rural tourism
v. Capacity building of stakeholders
vi. Governance and institutional framework
Apart from the above, the Rural Development (MoRD) Ministry has informed that under their scheme of Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM), 21 components have been suggested as desirable for the Cluster Development and Tourism Promotion is one of the components, Reddy mentioned in his written reply.
