New Delhi, Aug 2: The government under its Swadesh Darshan scheme is developing 15 theme-based tourism circuits in the country, Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Monday.
The objective of the scheme includes creating employment through active involvement of local communities and promoting community-based development with a pro-poor approach, he said.
The tourism ministry has identified eco and wildlife circuits as one of the 15 niche areas under the scheme and formulated a Draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Sustainable Tourism with focus on ecotourism.
Reddy, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, said the development projects under the scheme are identified in consultation with the State and UT administrations and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilisation of funds released earlier.
The minister in another written reply said the ministry has sanctioned three projects of Rs.179.68 crore under the Swadesh Darshan scheme in Gujarat.
It has also sanctioned three more projects for total of Rs.105.56 crore under ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ in the state.
