Major Tourism Promotion Schemes in India

The Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency for promoting tourism in India through policy support, infrastructure creation, digital monitoring, and global outreach. Its major schemes focus on destination development, pilgrimage tourism, heritage assets, and state-level capacity building.

Swadesh Darshan 1.0 and 2.0

• Swadesh Darshan 1.0: Launched in 2014–15 as a Central Sector Scheme, it sanctioned 76 theme-based circuit projects with a financial outlay of ₹5,290.33 crore. Of these, 75 projects are physically complete.
• Theme-based approach: The first version focused on developing tourist circuits around specific themes rather than individual destinations.
• Swadesh Darshan 2.0: Launched in 2022, it shifted the focus from circuits to sustainable, responsible and destination-centric tourism.
• Project support: Under SD 2.0, 53 projects have been sanctioned with an outlay of ₹2,208.31 crore.
• Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD): This sub-scheme encourages states to compete on tourism parameters to secure central support. It has sanctioned 38 projects with an allocation of ₹697.94 crore.
• Project monitoring: The Ministry uses the Project Management Information System (PMIS) portal to track project progress. States are required to upload time-stamped, geo-tagged photographs of active sites to reduce physical delays.

PRASHAD Scheme

• Full form: Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive.
• Launch: It was launched in January 2015 to improve pilgrimage and heritage tourism infrastructure.
• Expansion: In October 2017, the scheme was expanded to include heritage urban development.
• Funding pattern: PRASHAD is a Central Sector Scheme providing 100% central funding for public infrastructure.
• Other funding: States are encouraged to use Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for non-public components.
• Coverage: A total of 54 tourism projects across 28 States and Union Territories have been sanctioned under the scheme at an estimated cumulative cost of ₹1,726.74 crore.

Diaspora and Financial Assistance Initiatives

• Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign: Launched on March 7, 2024, this campaign asks Indian diaspora members to act as brand ambassadors for India tourism.
• Tourist outreach: Diaspora members are encouraged to invite non-Indian travellers to visit India.
• Visa facilitation: Recommended tourists receive specialised e-visas under the campaign.
• Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): Administered by the Ministry of Finance, this scheme gives 50-year interest-free loans to state governments.
• Purpose of SASCI: The loans are meant for developing iconic tourist centres of global standards.

Budgetary Allocations and Geographic Circuits

• Budget FY 2026–27: The Union Budget proposes ₹1,905.00 crore for Swadesh Darshan and ₹245.00 crore for PRASHAD.
• Ministry allocation: The overall net allocation for the Ministry of Tourism is ₹2,438.40 crore.
• Northeastern Buddhist Circuits: The budget introduces a dedicated scheme for Buddhist circuits across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.
• Eco-tourism trails: Proposed developments include mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir, along with nature trails in the Eastern and Western Ghats.
• Wildlife-linked tourism: The budget also mentions coastal turtle nesting trails and bird-watching corridors.

Institutional Capacity and Medical Tourism

• Hospitality education: The budget proposes upgrading the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT) into a National Institute of Hospitality.
• Tour guide training: It also aims to upskill 10,000 tourist guides.
• Digital infrastructure: A National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid is proposed to strengthen information access and destination management.
• Medical hubs: A new state support scheme will establish five Regional Medical Hubs.
• AYUSH integration: These hubs will combine advanced modern healthcare systems with AYUSH centres to expand medical tourism.

Key Prelims Takeaways

• Swadesh Darshan 1.0: Launched in 2014–15; theme-based circuit development scheme.
• Swadesh Darshan 2.0: Launched in 2022; focuses on sustainable and destination-centric tourism.
• CBDD: Challenge-Based Destination Development is a competitive sub-scheme under Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
• PRASHAD: Provides 100% central funding for public infrastructure and was expanded in 2017 to include heritage urban development.
• PMIS: Used for monitoring tourism projects through time-stamped, geo-tagged photographs.
• SASCI: A Ministry of Finance scheme offering 50-year interest-free loans for iconic tourist centres.
• North-eastern Buddhist circuits: Covered states are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.