Centre sanctions 116 new tourist spots across the country

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Tourism

Context:

The Centre has sanctioned 116 new tourist destinations across the country.
These projects are being developed under various schemes in partnership with State governments.
The total cost of development is ₹4,088 crores.

Schemes Under Which Destinations are Sanctioned

Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0): 34 destinations sanctioned.
Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD): 42 destinations identified.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): 40 destinations to be developed.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

Flagship initiative of the Union Tourism Ministry.
Aims to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.
Focuses on theme-based circuits.
Provides financial assistance to state governments for infrastructure development.
The scheme was revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) to focus on sustainable tourism destinations.

Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)

Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)

Centre sanctioned 40 projects in 23 States under this scheme.
Total cost: ₹3,295.76 crore (FY 2024-25).
Objective:
- Comprehensive development of iconic tourist centres.
- Branding and marketing of these destinations at a global scale.

Development of Tribal Homestays

Approved under Swadesh Darshan Scheme as part of Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan.
Key features:
- Development of 1,000 homestays.
- Financial support per unit:
  - ₹5 lakh (new construction).
  - ₹3 lakh (renovation).
  - ₹5 lakh (village community requirement)

Job-Oriented Skill Development Initiatives

Conducted by the Tourism Ministry through various institutes across the country, including Bihar.
Objective:
- Train and upgrade manpower in tourism services.
- Capitalize on the vast tourism potential of India.
- Provide professional expertise to the local population.