tourism.gov.in : Swadesh Darshan Scheme

Organisation : Ministry of Tourism
Scheme Name : Swadesh Darshan Scheme
Website : http://tourism.gov.in/
Terms & Conditions : https://www.statusin.in/uploads/23193-Swadesh-Darshan.pdf

Swadesh Darshan Scheme :

Vision :
** To position tourism as a major engine of economic growth and job creation;
** To promote India, as a global brand to take advantage of the burgeoning globaltravel trade and the vast untapped potential of India as a destination;

Related : HRIDAY Scheme Heritage City Development & Augmentation Yojana : www.statusin.in/23262.html

** To develop India into a world-class tourist destination and showcase the full potential of wide range of unique products;

** To provide complete tourism experience by enhancingtourist attractivenessina sustainable manner by developing world-class infrastructure in varied thematic circuits;

** To develop professionalism and modernism in tourism with focus on in-depth infrastructure development, assuring quality and efficiency while affirming brand and competitiveness;

** To promote national and State resources in mobilization of investment intourism development to make full use of the national potentials and advantages interms of available infrastructure, national culture and characteristic strong points of each and every region throughout the country by development of theme-based circuits;

** To develop theme-based circuits like eco-tourism with ecological and cultural conservation;

** To create employment through active involvement of local communities with pro-poor approach in a sustainable and inclusive manner through development of a “Responsible Tourism’ initiative.

Mission of statement :
To develop theme-based tourist circuits on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner by synergizing efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance employment opportunities.

Mission Objectives :
** Develop circuits having tourist potential in a planned and prioritized manner;
** Integrated development of infrastructure in the identified theme-based circuits;
** Promote cultural and heritage value of the country;

** Provide complete tourism experience with varied thematic circuits;
** Enhancing the tourist attractiveness in a sustainable manner by developing world-class infrastructure in the circuit destination;
** Follow community-based development and pro-poor tourism approach;

** Creating awareness among the local communities about the importance of tourism for them in terms of increase in sources of income, improved living standards and overall development of the area;

** Promote local arts, culture, handicrafts, cuisine, etc., to generate livelihood in the identified regions;

** Harness tourism potential for its direct and multiplier effects in employment generation and economic development;
** Leverage public capital and expertise.

Mission Strategy :
a. To identify theme-based circuits that have potential to be showcased as world-class tourism products in consultation with the stakeholders;
b. To ensure that the development of theme-based circuits adhere to the sustainability and carrying capacities of the destinations;

c. To create a framework for classifying infrastructural gaps in the identified circuits that have been major roadblocks in unlocking the potential of these circuits;

d. To plan in an integrated manner the development of these circuits in a specific time-frame ensuring full convergence of State and Central Government schemes as well as private sector investments;

e. To identify and prioritize projects that need to be taken up through dedicated public funding immediately and to leverage to the extent feasible, additional resources from voluntary funding (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives of Central Public Sector Under takings and corporate sector;

f. To promote local arts, culture, handicrafts, cuisine, etc., to generate livelihood in the identified regions;
g. To follow a comprehensive area development approach for ensuring all the facilities required by the tourists in the identified circuits;

h. To centrally coordinate the development process of identified projects.
This scheme is proposed to be implemented as a Central Sector scheme during the 12th Five-Year Plan and beyond.

Generaſ Provisions of Scheme :
** Tourist Circuit is defined as a route on which at least three major tourist destinations are located such that none of these are in the same town, village or city. At the same time, it would be ensured that they are not separated by a long distance.

It should have well-defined entry and exit points. A tourist who enters should get motivated to visit all the places identified in the circuit.

** Theme based Tourist Circuit is defined as a tourist circuit around specific themes, such as religion, culture, ethnicity, niche, etc. A theme-based Tourist Circuit could be confined to a state or could be a regional circuit covering more than a State/Union Territory.

National Steering Committee (NSC):
To steer the Mission objectives and vision of the scheme, a National Steering Committee will be constituted with the following composition :
1. Minister in Charge, M/O Tourism Chairman
2. Secretary, M/O Tourism Vice Chairman
3. Addl. Secretary, M/O Tourism Member

4. Financial Advisor, M/O Tourism Member
5. Secretary or his representative*, M/O Culture Member
6. Director General, ASI Member

7. Secretary or his representative*, M/O Urban Development |Member
8. Secretary or his representative*, M/O Housing Member and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA)
9. Secretary or his representative*, M/O Civil Aviation Member

10. Secretary or his representative*, M/O Skill Development Member
11. Secretary or his representative*, M/O Road Transport Member & Highway (RT&H)
12. Secretary or his representative*, M/0 Shipping Member

13. Secretary or his representative*, M/O Power Member
14. Secretary or his representative*, M/O Environment & Member Forests (MoEF)
15. Secretary or his representative*, M/O Water Resources, Member River Development & Ganga. Rejuvenation

16. Secretary or his representative*, M/O Rural Development Member
17. Executive Director (Tourism & Catering), M/O Railways Member
18. Joint Secretary/Addl. Director General, M/O Tourism Member Secretary

*not below the rank of Joint Secretary Other Ministries, if required, may also be represented as invitee members on case-to- case basis.

Key Responsibilities of NSC :
a. Enunciate the vision and chalk out the road map for the scheme and provide a platform for exchange of ideas;
b. Oversee all operations, steer, review and monitor overall performance of the scheme and provide guidance on specific issues relating to the scheme;

c. Recommend mid-course corrections in the implementation tools;
d. Periodical oversight and review of proposed/ongoing projects.

Mission Tírectorate :
There shall be a Mission Directorate headed by the Member Secretary, NSC, as Nodal Officer. Composition of the Mission Directorate will be as under :
1. Joint Secretary/Addl. Director General (Member Secretary, NSC) Chairperson
2. Director/Deputy Secretary, Finance/Financial Controller Member

3. Secretary, Tourism, of the concerned State Member
4. Representatives of other concerned Ministries Member
5. Director/Deputy Director General, M/O Tourism Convener