Rs.3,295.76cr approved for development of lesser-known tourism sites in 23 States

SUBHASHIS MITTRA

 

 

 

In a big boost for tourism sector, the Centre has approved 40 projects worth Rs.3,295.76 crore for development of lesser-known tourism sites in 23 States, across the country.

 

This includes Rs 97.70 crore, which has been approved for development of 51 Shakti Peethas Park at Banduar, Gomati, in Tripura. The 51 Shakti Peethas Park project aims to develop replicas of the 51 Shakti Peethas in a natural park beside Kalyan Sagar lake in Banduar village in Udaipur in Gomati district - famous Tripura Sundari Temple, which is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas built by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya Debbarma in 1501.

 

The initiative taken by the Union Ministry of Tourism aims to ease pressure on high-traffic sites and promote a more balanced distribution of tourists across the country.

 

By focusing on lesser-known destinations, the Ministry hopes to enhance the overall tourism experience, boost local economies, and ensure sustainable growth in the tourism sector through a strategic approach to new project selection.

 

The Government's investment in the projects will act as a catalyst, stimulating economic growth and creating jobs. By leveraging private sector expertise and capital at destinations, the States can enhance public infrastructure, improve local amenities, and attract more tourists, ultimately boosting the regional economy and fostering long-term development.

 

The Ministry is also emphasising on community-based tourism that empowers local populations and preserves cultural heritage. By integrating sustainable practices into tourism planning, State Governments will be able to ensure long-term growth while safeguarding natural and cultural resources by adopting best practices.

 

The Ministry of Tourism is also encouraging State Governments to integrate advanced technologies into their tourism projects. By adopting technology, States can streamline operations, optimise tourist flow, and provide sustainable, innovative solutions for growth in the sector.

 

Under the Special Assistance to States/Union Territories for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme of Department of Expenditure, the Ministry of Finance, operational guidelines for Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale were issued by the Ministry of Tourism.

 

The aim of this scheme is to infuse long-term interest-free loans for a period of 50 years to states for comprehensively developing iconic tourist centres in the country, branding, and marketing them at global scale.

 

By infusing capital investment in the form of projects, the scheme further envisages growth of local economy and creation of employment opportunities through sustainable tourism projects.

 

The states have been given a timeline of two years for completing the projects. 

 

The Ministry of Tourism in line with the guidelines and as per the procedure/ criteria, shortlisted 40 projects across 23 States for which Rs.3,295.76 crore has been sanctioned by the Department of Expenditure.