**Summary:**
The Ministry of Tourism is working to expand tourism infrastructure, particularly in tribal and hilly areas, by supporting the efforts of State Governments/Union Territory Administrations through central sector schemes. These schemes include Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), and Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD). Financial assistance is extended to State Governments/UT Administrations/Central Agencies, contingent on fund availability, adherence to guidelines, and submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). The Government of India also provides financial assistance to States for tourism projects through the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) initiative. Projects sanctioned under these schemes encompass green mobility and signage, aiming to enhance tourism amenities and experiences.
Specifically, the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has initiated a program for the Development of Tribal Home Stays under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. This aims to leverage the tourism potential of tribal areas and provide alternative livelihoods to tribal communities. Funding support is available to tribal households and villages, with provisions for:
* Up to Rs. 5 Lakh for village community requirements.
* Up to Rs. 5 Lakh for construction of two new rooms per household.
* Up to Rs. 3 Lakh for renovation of existing rooms per household.
Schematic guidelines for the Development of Homestays in Tribal Areas have been issued. While the guidelines do not specifically reference the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, they require State Governments/UT Administrations to identify suitable tribal villages and beneficiaries in consultation with the local community. States/UTs will submit projects to the Ministry, and funds will be disbursed to individual beneficiaries/village communities through the implementing agency of the concerned State/UT in a transparent manner. States are also advised to frame operational guidelines for scheme implementation in compliance with existing laws and regulations.
This information was provided by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha. For further information, contact Sunil Kumar Tiwari at tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com. Release ID: 2157556. The announcement was posted on August 18, 2025, at 5:31 PM by PIB Delhi.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and policies relating to the development and promotion of tourism in India.
Swadesh Darshan SD: A central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism focused on integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 SD2.0: An evolved version of the Swadesh Darshan scheme, aiming for sustainable and responsible tourism development.
Challenge Based Destination Development CBDD: A sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan focused on developing tourism destinations based on a challenge model.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive PRASHAD: A scheme focused on developing and rejuvenating pilgrimage destinations in India.
State GovernmentsUT Administrations: Refers to the governments of the States and Union Territories of India, which have primary responsibility for tourism infrastructure development.
Government of India: The central government of India.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment SASCI: An initiative by the Government of India to provide financial assistance to states for capital investments, including tourism projects.
Ministry of Tourism
Expansion of Tourism Infrastructure
Posted On: 18 AUG 2025 5:31PM by PIB Delhi
Development of tourism infrastructure in the country including tribal and hilly areas is primarily the
responsibility of concerned State Governments/UT Administrations. Further, the tourist material and signage
in local and vernacular languages is also developed by the concerned State Governments/UT Administration.
However, the Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD)’, ‘Swadesh
Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’, ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)’ – a sub-scheme of Swadesh
Darshan and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ schemes
complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development by extending financial assistance to the State
Governments/UT Administrations/Central Agencies; subject to availability of funds, adherence to scheme
guidelines, submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) by the State Government etc. In addition,
Government of India under its initiative for ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)’ has
also provided financial assistance to the States for development of tourism projects. The projects sanctioned
under the schemes cover multiple components including those related to green mobility, signage etc. to
provide enhanced tourism amenities and augmented tourism experiences for the visitors and tourists.
Further, the Ministry of Tourism in consultation with Ministry of Tribal Affairs has taken up an initiative for
‘Development of Tribal Home Stays’ under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism with an
idea to tap the tourist potential of tribal areas and to provide an alternative livelihood to the tribal community.
The initiative includes funding support to the tribal household and villages for:
(a) Up to Rs.5 Lakh for village community requirement
(b) Up to Rs.5 Lakh for construction of two new rooms for each household
(c) Up to Rs.3 lakh for renovation of existing rooms for each household
Ministry of Tourism has accordingly issued schematic guidelines for Development of Homestays in Tribal
Areas. The said schematic guidelines do not specifically refer to the Provisions of the Panchayats Extension
to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act. However, as per the said schematic guidelines, the State Governments/UT
Administrations shall be required to identify suitable tribal village(s) and tribal beneficiary (ies) in tribal areas
for construction/ renovation of homestays and this shall be done in consultation with the local community.
Further, the State/UT will submit the project to the Ministry under this scheme and funds will be released to
the implementing agency of the concerned State/UT, which will further be responsible to disburse funds to
individual beneficiaries/village communities in a well-defined and transparent manner. The schematic
guidelines also suggest the concerned States to frame the operation guidelines for implementation of the
scheme, in compliance with extant laws, rules and regulations in place.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a
written reply in Lok Sabha today.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2157556)