India Accelerates Tourism Growth Through Strategic Infrastructure Development
India’s cultural uniqueness, natural beauty, and diverse culture and traditions make it one of the best tourism destinations in the world. Recognizing the immense power of tourism, the Government of India is committed to bettering infrastructure to promote tourism in all parts of the country, including rural, tribal, and remote areas, both to bolster the visitor experience, but to also promote sustainable tourism development.
State and Central Governments
Tourism Infrastructure development is a joint venture that is typically completed by the respective State Government and Union Territory (UT) Administrations. The State Governments, UT administrations, and their various departments take the lead in promoting, and developing & improving tourist destinations in their Jurisdiction. This is true, especially for rural and/or lesser-known area that have untapped potential.
In addition to the state efforts, the Ministry of Tourism at the central level also provides strong financial and technical support through central sector schemes. Central sector schemes are defined as schemes that provide support for infrastructure, enhance connectivity and provide an enhanced tourism experience at a national level.
Key Central Sector Schemes for Tourism Infrastructure
Swadesh Darshan (SD) and Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) – SD and SD 2.0 as central sector schemes promote the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits. The theme-based tourist circuits include, but are not limited to, heritage, spiritual, rural, coastal and eco-tourism circuits. By synergizing effort and incorporation across a tourism circuit, the SD and SD 2.0 schemes focus on integrating a rich and diverse cultural experience with present-day conveniences and comforts.
Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD): This is a sub-scheme under Swadesh Darshan. CBDD promotes innovative and high-impact projects capable of changing tourist destinations right until sustainability. It promotes competition among states and agencies and encourage compete solutions to tourism challenges. Infrastructure projects ensure tourism facilities offer operational access and visitor friendly sustainability.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): Considering India’s unique socio-spiritual positioning, PRASHAD is focused on Developing pilgrimage sites and improving destination facilities, accessibility and protecting heritage quantifiers. This support mechanism also has an important role to play in facilitating spiritual tourism, which in India is a huge segment attracting millions of domestic and International pilgrims annually.
Assistance to Central Agencies (ACA) for Tourism Infrastructure Development: This scheme facilitates the participation of central government agencies in tourism infrastructure projects, providing additional capacity and expertise to expedite development in priority destinations.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): This initiative provides targeted financial aid to states for capital investment in tourism projects, particularly those that can generate employment and promote regional economic development.
These schemes collectively support a wide array of projects, ranging from constructing visitor amenities, developing tourist interpretation centers, improving access roads, establishing signage and information kiosks, to upgrading sanitation and safety infrastructure. Importantly, they extend beyond urban hubs, channeling resources to rural and remote regions to unlock their tourism potential.
Marketing Tribal Tourism through Homestays
A specific priority identified by the Ministry of Tourism is to establish tourism infrastructure in tribal areas. To leverage the cultural wealth and physical beauty of tribal areas, the Ministry has produced guidelines related to identifying homestays operated by tribal groups. The initiative provides travelers the ability to access more places for accommodation and stay in interesting places to meet interesting people and support sustainable livelihoods for local tribal people.
The guidelines also provide a detailed proposal format to assist state and UT administrations to develop and or implement homestay projects.
By fostering community-based tourism models, this initiative contributes to preserving tribal heritage and promoting inclusive growth.
National Strategy for Rural Tourism
Recognizing the opportunity presented by rural tourism as an engine for inclusive development, the Ministry of Tourism has developed a National Strategy and Roadmap for Rural Tourism Development for India, including some actions to create infrastructure, connectivity, and value-added tourism products in rural areas. This strategy aims to attract tourists wanting to experience local cultures, agriculture and ecology, and to offer economic opportunities to rural communities whilst maintaining their uniqueness.
Progress and Impacts
The projects funded through these schemes are located across the country including various tourism destinations both on regular first time circuits and newly opened rural and tribal locations. The new infrastructure, improved accessibility, and best improvements will help make India’s tourism landscape competitive in the global tourism sector.
These efforts show a commitment by the government in its efforts to use tourism as a vehicle for growth, jobs and cultural preservation, according to Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The comprehensive list of hot projects funded through Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, ACA, SASCI and other schemes is kept updated to maintain transparency and accountability.
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