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Tourism Boost: 40 Projects Worth ₹3,295 Crore Sanctioned to Transform Destinations

The government has given a major push to tourism by sanctioning 40 new projects. These projects, funded under the SASCI initiative, aim to develop iconic destinations across the country. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat provided these details in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. The move is part of a broader strategy that includes the revamped Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme to promote sustainable tourism.

Key Points: Govt Sanctions 40 Tourism Projects Under SASCI Initiative

  • 40 projects worth ₹3,295 crore sanctioned under the Special Assistance to States scheme
  • Focus on developing iconic destinations with global branding and marketing
  • State governments to implement projects with stakeholder and community consultation
  • Ministry of Tourism also revamped Swadesh Darshan Scheme into SD 2.0 for sustainability
2 min read

Tourism booster: Govt sanctions 40 projects for Rs 3,295 crore under SASCI initiative

The government sanctions 40 projects worth ₹3,295 crore under SASCI to develop iconic tourist centres and boost sustainable tourism infrastructure across India.

"The objective is to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale. - Ministry of Tourism Guidelines"

New Delhi, Dec 18

The government on Thursday said it has sanctioned 40 projects for Rs 3, 295.76 crore in the country under the ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment’ (SASCI) initiative to boost the tourism sector.

During financial year 2024-25, the Ministry of Tourism issued operational guidelines for the SASCI initiative, with the objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale.

Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha that projects under the scheme were identified based on the project proposals submitted by the concerned state governments, its examination on the prescribed parameters to access destination potential and preparedness -- such as connectivity to the site, tourism ecosystem, carrying capacity, sustainability measures, sustainable operation and management, project impact and value created, tourism marketing plans etc. and as per the institutional framework detailed in the scheme guidelines.

The scheme guidelines also encourage the state governments to undertake consultations with stakeholders and local community representatives while preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).

These sanctioned projects are implemented and managed by the concerned state government. However, Ministry of Tourism periodically reviews the progress of the projects sanctioned under SASCI scheme and encourages the state governments to expedite progress of projects in a time-bound manner.

The Ministry of Tourism has also revamped the Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable tourism destinations.

Accordingly, a total of 53 projects for Rs 2,208.27 crore are sanctioned under SD2.0 scheme and 36 projects for Rs 648.11 Crore are sanctioned under CBDD initiative.

Presently, e-visa facility under nine sub-categories is available to nationals of 171 countries for entry through 31 designated international airports and 6 major seaports and the processing of e-visa is totally on the online platform, said Shekhawat.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Great initiative, but execution is key. Past schemes sometimes saw delays. Hope the state governments are held accountable for timely implementation. Also, involving local communities is a must for authentic tourism. Let's not just build for foreigners, but improve facilities for Indian tourists too.
R
Rohit P
Rs 3,295 crore is a massive investment! This can really put India on the global tourism map. E-visa for 171 countries is already a game changer. Now with better infrastructure, we can attract even more visitors. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
S
Sarah B
As someone who loves traveling in India, I hope this leads to better cleanliness and facilities at historical sites. Sometimes the experience is marred by poor maintenance. Sustainable tourism is the right way forward.
V
Vikram M
The mention of 'carrying capacity' is important. We've seen places like Shimla and Manali get overwhelmed. Development should not destroy the very places we want to showcase. Hope the DPRs are made public for transparency.
K
Kavya N
This is excellent news for our youth. Tourism creates so many opportunities - guides, hospitality, local artisans, transport. My only request: please develop destinations beyond the usual golden triangle. India has so many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

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