NEW DELHI: Unlocking India’s vast cultural and religious tourism potential is clearly on the Narendra Modi government’s agenda. It has sanctioned over Rs 4,200 crore in the last two-and-a-half years for two flagship schemes—‘Swadesh Darshan’, which includes integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits, and ‘Prasad’ under which 23 sites of religious significance will be developed.
A senior tourism ministry official said that tourism in the country has significant potential because of its rich cultural and historical heritage. “However, it could not be utilised completely because of poor infrastructure. The purpose of the big investment is to attract more and more tourists by developing infrastructure of global standard,” said the official, adding that on an average India has witnessed 8-10 per cent growth in arrival of foreign tourists and it will rise more after infrastructure boost.
So far, the government has sanctioned 46 projects under the Swadesh Darshan scheme worth Rs 3,945 crore of which Rs 2,279 crore were sanctioned in the current financial year for 26 projects. The projects are in 21 states and union territories, of which nine projects worth Rs 821 crore cover all northeastern states. For tribal areas in Nagaland, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, three projects worth Rs 282 crore was sanctioned.
The Swadesh Darshan scheme was launched in 2014-15 with the aim of developing theme-based tourism circuits. Under the scheme, 13 thematic circuits have been identified: 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. Similarly, over Rs 332 crore for 14 projects of Prasad scheme has been sanctioned to develop 23 cities of religious importance. The cities are Gaya, Amritsar, Ajmer, Dwarka, Mathura, Varanasi, Amaravati, Kanchipuram, Vellankanni, Puri, Kedarnath and Guwahati.
The official added that places have been selected keeping in mind their heritage and historical importance. “In Haryana, the ministry has sanctioned development of tourism infrastructure at places related to Mahabharata in Kurukshetra under Krishna circuit with Rs 97.35 crore in the current fiscal,” he added.