**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism reports a rise in tourist footfall in Maharashtra from 2022 to 2024. Multiple tourism projects have been sanctioned under various central schemes like Swadesh Darshan (SD), PRASHAD, and others. Project sanction details, including costs, are provided. Development proposals are examined based on scheme guidelines, subject to the fulfilment of conditions and availability of funds.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Tourist Visit Estimates:**
* Steady rise in tourist visits to Maharashtra from 2022 to 2024.
* 2022: 11,12,97,624 domestic and 15,11,623 foreign tourist visits.
* 2023: 16,13,59,527 domestic and 33,87,739 foreign tourist visits.
* 2024 (estimated): 18,93,71,541 domestic and 37,05,170 foreign tourist visits.
* **Central Schemes:**
* Financial support extended under schemes like Swadesh Darshan (SD & SD2.0), CBDD, PRASHAD, ACATID, and SASCI.
* Focus on sustainable, community-oriented tourism.
* **Sanctioned Projects (Scheme-wise Details):**
* **Swadesh Darshan (SD):**
* Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit (Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg, Mitbhav): ₹19.06 crore (Sanction Year: 2015-16), reported as physically complete.
* **Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0):**
* Shivsrushti Historical Theme Park - Phase 3, Pune: ₹76.22 crore (Sanction Year: 2023-24).
* **Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD):**
* Development of Ahmednagar Fort: ₹25.00 crore (Sanctioned March 2025).
* **Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD):**
* Development of Trimbakeshwar, Nashik: ₹45.41 crore (Sanction Year: 2017-18).
* **Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI):**
* RAM-KAL PATH, Nashik: ₹99.14 crore (Sanctioned Nov 2024).
* Ex-INS Guldar Underwater Museum, Sindhudurg: ₹46.91 crore (Sanctioned Nov 2024).
* SASCI total sanctioned: ₹146.05 crore.
* **Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development (ACATID / ACA):**
* Kanoji Angre Lighthouse: ₹15.00 crore (09-08-2016).
* Up-gradation of International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai: ₹12.50 crore (29-12-2017).
* Up-gradation of International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai Port Trust: ₹37.50 crore (20-12-2021).
* Nanded Railway Station: ₹5.18 crore (31-03-2017).
* Aurangabad Railway Station: ₹5.71 crore (12-03-2018).
* **Additional Information:**
* Total sanctioned cost for Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD projects in Maharashtra is ₹64.53 crore.
* Kolhapur not identified as a potential heritage/spiritual circuit under PRASHAD or Swadesh Darshan.
* Proposals are examined and sanctioned based on guidelines and fund availability.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Tourism:**
* **Impact:** The Ministry has extended financial support under various schemes to the State of Maharashtra.
* **Action Required:** Continue examining development proposals, sanction projects based on guidelines and fund availability, and emphasize sustainable and community-based tourism development.
Key Entities Referenced
Swadesh Darshan: A central sector scheme by the Ministry of Tourism for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.
Maharashtra: Indian state where the projects are being sanctioned and supported, and the location central to the article's focus.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): A central sector scheme by the Ministry of Tourism for holistic development of identified pilgrimage destinations.
Ministry of Tourism: Government ministry responsible for extending financial support to the State of Maharashtra under various central sector schemes.
Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development (ACATID): A central sector scheme by the Ministry of Tourism for supporting the development of tourism infrastructure.
Ministry of Tourism
Maharashtra sees rise in tourists footfall
Multiple tourism projects sanctioned under Swadesh
Darshan, PRASHAD and other central schemes in the state
प्रव तथ: 04 DEC 2025 7:26PM by PIB Mumbai
:Mumbai, 04, December 2025
Tourist visit estimates for Maharashtra showed a steady rise from 2022 to 2024. In
2022, the state had recorded 11,12,97,624 domestic tourist visits (DTVs) and
15,11,623 foreign tourist visits (FTVs). This increased significantly in 2023, with
domestic visits rising to 16,13,59,527 and foreign visits to 33,87,739. The upward
trend continued in 2024, when Maharashtra saw an estimated 18,93,71,541
domestic tourist visits and 37,05,170 foreign tourist visits, reflecting strong growth
in both domestic and international tourism.
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has extended financial support to the
State of Maharashtra under various central sector schemes — Swadesh Darshan
(SD) & Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), Challenge Based Destination Development
(CBDD), Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive
(PRASHAD), Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development
(ACATID) and Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) — to
complement State efforts in development of tourism infrastructure and promotion of
sustainable, community-oriented tourism.
Projects sanctioned / supported in Maharashtra (scheme-wise details):
Swadesh Darshan (SD)
Development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit – Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg
(Beach & Creek), Mitbhav (Sanction Year: 2015-16) — ₹19.06 crore. Reported to be
physically complete.
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)
Shivsrushti Historical Theme Park – Phase 3, Pune (Sanction Year: 2023-24) —
₹76.22 crore.
Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)
Development of Ahmednagar Fort (Sanctioned March 2025) — ₹25.00 crore.Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)
Development of Trimbakeshwar, Nashik (Sanction Year: 2017-18) — ₹45.41 crore.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)
RAM–KAL PATH, Nashik (Sanctioned Nov 2024) — ₹99.14 crore.
Ex-INS Guldar Underwater Museum, Artificial Reef, and Submarine Tourism,
Sindhudurg (Sanctioned Nov 2024) — ₹46.91 crore.
SASCI total sanctioned for Maharashtra: ₹146.05 crore.
Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development
(ACATID / ACA)
Development of Kanoji Angre Lighthouse as a tourist destination (09-08-2016) —
₹15.00 crore.
Up-gradation/modernization to International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai
(29-12-2017) — ₹12.50 crore.
Upgradation/Modernization to International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai
Port Trust (20-12-2021) — ₹37.50 crore.
Nanded Railway Station (31-03-2017) — ₹5.18 crore.
Aurangabad Railway Station (12-03-2018) — ₹5.71 crore.
Under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes, the total sanctioned cost
reported for projects in the state is ₹64.53 crore. It includes the Sindhudurg Coastal
Circuit and Waki–Adasa–Dhapewada–Paradsingha–Telankhandi–Girad Spiritual
Circuit projects.
The Ministry of Tourism has not identified or sanctioned Kolhapur as a potential
heritage and spiritual tourism circuit under PRASHAD or Swadesh Darshan; no
projects have been sanctioned at Mahalaxmi Temple, Rankala Lake or Panhala Fort
under the ongoing central schemes as per the information provided.
Development proposals from State Governments/UT Administrations are a
continuous process. Projects are examined as per scheme guidelines and sanctioned
subject to fulfilment of conditions and availability of funds.
The Ministry reiterates its emphasis on sustainable, community-based tourism
development — integrating responsible tourism principles, improving visitor
amenities and experiences, enabling local participation and ensuring balanced
regional development.
This was stated in a written reply to an unstarred question by the Minister of
Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Rajya Sabha today.
***
PIB Mumbai | Sriyanka Chatterjee / Robin Singh/Parshuram Kor
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