Impacts on Tourist Employment and Livelihoods

Ministry of Tourism Impacts on Tourist Employment and Livelihoods Posted On: 21 AUG 2025 4:19PM by PIB Delhi Ministry of Tourism launched its ‘Swadesh Darshan scheme (SDS)’ in 2014-15 with the idea to develop tourism infrastructure under identified thematic tourism circuits in the country and sanctioned 76 projects for Rs.5290.33 Crore. The scheme was revamped as ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’ with the aim to develop sustainable tourism destinations and 52 projects have been sanctioned under SD2.0 scheme for Rs.2108.87 Crore. The Ministry under its ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ scheme has also sanctioned 54 projects in the country for Rs.1726.74 Crore. The Ministry has further sanctioned 36 projects for Rs.648.10 Crore under ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan. In addition, the Government of India under ‘Special Assistance to the States for Capital Investment (SASCI)’ scheme has sanctioned 40 projects for Rs.3295.76 Crore in the country. The projects under the above-mentioned schemes are sanctioned; on pan-India basis including aspirational and heritage related sites/ destinations for development of tourism infrastructure; and on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned State Government/UT Administration and subject to its alignment with the schemes’ guidelines & other instructions issued from time to time, availability of budget etc. The scheme guidelines of Swadesh Darshan encourage the States/UTs to create job opportunities including self-employment for local communities at destinations. In addition, it also boosts adoption of principles of sustainable tourism with adequate focus on capacity building among local communities including youth and women and advises the State Governments/UT Administrations to establish synergy with other Central and State schemes while planning the development of destinations. Similarly, SASCI scheme also envisages the local economy growth and create employment opportunities through sustainable tourism projects. The assets created through central funding under the above-mentioned schemes are owned by the concerned State Government/UT Administration and its operation and management which also includes long-term livelihood benefits are undertaken at their level. A third-party impact assessment of central sector scheme of Swadesh Darshan undertaken in 2019 through National Productivity Council states that the scheme has been able to provide livelihood opportunities and create employment for local communities in the construction phase. The Ministry has not conducted any study in the recent past to capture data related to employment generated through Swadesh Darshan and SASCI schemes. However, the employment scenario in tourism sector in India is as under: - Financial Year Total number of Jobs (in Crore) 2021-22 7.0 2022-23 7.6 2023-24 8.4 In addition, the Ministry of Tourism conducts hospitality and tourism related short-term training courses under its “Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP)” scheme through Government and empanelled private institutes. These programmes include Hunar Se Rozgar Tak, Entrepreneurship Programme, Skill Testing & Certification, Tourism Awareness Programme, etc. As per the information available, a total of 5.54 lakh individuals including women, youth have been trained in the country. The outcome of these trainings includes placements, self-employment, entrepreneurship etc.This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. **** Sunil Kumar Tiwari tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com (Release ID: 2159104)