The Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India during 2016, 2017 and 2018 were 8.80 million, 10.04 million and 10.56 million (provisional) respectively.

Development and promotion of tourist places is primarily the responsibility of concerned State Government/UT Administration. However, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has taken several steps for creation of tourism infrastructure in the country so as to attract more tourists, which inter-alia include:

i.          Launched two flagship schemes: Swadesh Darshan - Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits and PRASHAD- Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive. The projects under these schemes are identified for development in consultation with the State Governments/UT Administrations and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier.

ii.         Pursuant to the Budget Announcements of 2018-19, this Ministry has identified 17 sites in 12 clusters in the country for development as Iconic Tourist Sites.

iii.        The ‘Adopt A Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’, a collaborative effort by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), State/UTs Governments, envisages developing heritage sites and making them tourist friendly, to enhance tourism potential and cultural importance in a planned and phased manner.

iv.        Ministry provides Assistance to Central Agencies for the development of tourism related infrastructure in the country.                         

This information was given by the Minister of State (I/C) of Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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NB/UD