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Date: 2026-02-09 Category: Not Applicable State: Union Government Country: India

Parliament Question: Development of Beach and Coastal Tourist Sites

Issued by TOURISM · Not Applicable

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

**Executive Summary** This document presents the Ministry of Tourism's response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *139 regarding the development of beach and coastal tourist sites. The response includes details on Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) to coastal states/UTs and information on financial assistance and various schemes aimed at promoting and developing beach tourism. The answer was provided on February 9, 2026. **Key Points / Main Content** *Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs)* * The Ministry compiles FTV data based on information from State/UT Governments. * Data on the top ten coastal States/UTs with the highest FTVs for the last five years and the current year (latest available), along with their shares, is located in Annexure-I. *Financial Assistance and Schemes* * Beach and coastal tourism development is primarily undertaken by State Governments/UT Administrations. * The Ministry complements these efforts through schemes such as 'Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)' and ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), with an additional scheme ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’. * These schemes extend financial assistance based on project proposals from State Governments/UT Administrations. * Details of projects undertaken in beach and coastal destinations are placed at Annexure II. *Studies and Policy* * The Ministry actively addresses tourism promotion and development issues, including coastal tourism, through various initiatives. * Feasibility studies and assessments are integral to project development under existing schemes. * Currently, a separate nationwide study, assessment, or policy exclusively for coastal tourism development is not planned. **Impact Analysis** **State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations** *Impact* Responsible for the development and promotion of tourist destinations, including beach and coastal areas. They can receive financial assistance from the Ministry of Tourism. *Action Required* Prepare and submit project proposals aligned with scheme guidelines to the Ministry to avail financial assistance for tourism infrastructure development. **Ministry of Tourism** *Impact* Complements the efforts of State Governments/UT Administrations through various schemes. *Action Required* Strengthen and effectively implement the ongoing initiatives and monitor the evolving needs of the tourism sector. **Tourism Sector Stakeholders** *Impact* Benefit from enhanced tourism infrastructure and promotion, leading to potential growth and development. *Action Required* Provide inputs to the Ministry in alignment with national priorities.

Key Entities Referenced

Ministry of Tourism: The central ministry responsible for tourism policy and development. Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Indian Parliament, where the question was raised. Beach Tourism Policy: Proposed policy for development, regulation and beautification of beaches Swadesh Darshan: Central sector scheme aimed at tourism infrastructure development including beaches. Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): Scheme for developing iconic tourist centres.
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*139 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 DEVELOPMENT OF BEACH AND COASTAL TOURIST SITES *139. SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) the details of top ten States recording the highest number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for beach and coastal tourism during the last five years and the current year, year and State/UT-wise, along with their respective shares; (b) whether the Government provides financial assistance for the development of select beaches as high-end tourism destinations; (c) if so, the details thereof, including the names of the schemes or programmes and the funds sanctioned, released and utilised; (d) whether the Government has undertaken any studies or assessments for the development of beaches as high-end tourism destinations; (e) if so, the details thereof; (f) whether the Government proposes to formulate a comprehensive Beach Tourism Policy for the development, regulation and beautification of beaches; and (g) if so, the details thereof, including the proposed timelines and key policy objectives? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (g): A Statement is laid on the table of the House. ******STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*139 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF BEACH AND COASTAL TOURIST SITES RAISED BY SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS (a): The Ministry compiles data on Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) to States/Union Territories based on information received from the State/UT Governments. The details of top ten coastal States/UTs recording the highest number of Foreign Tourist Visits during the last five years and the current year (latest available), along with their respective shares, are placed at Annexure-I. (b) to (c): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including beach and coastal tourism is undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration. The Ministry of Tourism complements the efforts of States/UTs through various schemes and initiatives. The Ministry of Tourism through its central sectors schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’ and ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan scheme complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country including at beach destinations by extending financial assistance to the SGs/UTAs on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government directions, availability of funds etc. Government of India under its ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’ has also sanctioned projects with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale.The details of projects undertaken in beach and coastal destinations under various schemes of the Ministry of Tourism are placed at Annexure II. (d) to (g): Various schemes, programs, and initiatives of the Ministry have been actively addressing issues related to the tourism promotion and development, including coastal tourism. The focus of the Ministry is to strengthen and effectively implement these ongoing initiatives and monitor the evolving needs of the tourism sector, while remaining open to further enhancements in alignment with national priorities and stakeholder’s inputs. Feasibility studies and related assessments of proposed sites under the aforementioned schemes form an integral part of project development; however, a separate nationwide study, assessment or policy exclusively for development of coastal tourism is not envisaged at this point in time. ******ANNEXURE-I STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*139 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF BEACH AND COASTAL TOURIST SITES RAISED BY SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS i. The details of coastal States/UTs recording the highest number of Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) during the last five years State wise Foreign Tourist Visits (FTV) during 2019-2024 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 S. States/UTs % No FTV FTV FTV FTV FTV FTV Share 1 Maharashtra 5,528,704 1,262,409 185,643 1,511,623 3,387,739 3,705,170 17.69 2 West Bengal 1,656,145 463,285 34,828 1,037,017 2,706,942 3,124,462 14.92 3 Gujarat 595,607 210,047 11,319 1,777,215 2,806,871 2,274,477 10.86 4 Tamil Nadu 6,866,327 1,228,323 57,622 407,126 1,174,899 1,161,302 5.55 5 Kerala 1,189,771 340,755 60,487 345,549 649,057 738,374 3.53 6 Karnataka 608,754 165,325 72,487 128,520 409,333 485,204 2.32 7 Goa 937,113 302,751 22,128 174,799 452,692 467,911 2.23 Andhra 8 280,356 67,591 27,551 165,845 60,426 262,431 1.25 Pradesh 9 Odisha 115,128 10,206 2,269 22,121 45,173 87,854 0.42 10 Puducherry 149,919 92,080 321 862 31,214 17,819 0.09 Andaman & 11 Nicobar 16,206 5,412 1,687 4,461 9,025 11,497 0.05 Islands Dadra Nagar 12 Haveli & 7,369 1,604 185 1,791 4,048 2,626 0.01 Daman & Diu 13 Lakshadweep 820 413 4 125 755 898 0.00 Source: State/UTs Tourism DepartmentsANNEXURE-II STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (b) to (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*139 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF BEACH AND COASTAL TOURIST SITES RAISED BY SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS I. The details of Projects undertaken in beach/coastal destinations across all schemes of Destination Development Division, Ministry of Tourism – SD 1.0, SD 2.0, CBDD, SASCI, PRASHAD are as below Swadesh Darshan 1.0 S. State/UT Project Name Sanction Sanctio Amount Amount Status N Year ned Authorized Utilized o. Cost for (in ₹ Cr) (in ₹ Cr) utilization (in ₹ Cr) 1 Andaman & Development 2016-17 27.57 22.13 22.08 Complete Nicobar of Long Island- Islands Ross Smith Island- Neil Island- Havelock Island- Baratang Island-Port Blair 2 Andhra Development 2014-25 67.83 67.83 67.83 Complete Pradesh of Kakinada - Hope Island - Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary - Passarlapudi - Aduru - S Yanam – Kotipally 3 Andhra Development 2015-16 49.55 49.55 49.55 Complete Pradesh of Nellore - Pulikat Lake -Ubblamadugu Water Falls – Nelapattu- Kothakoduru- Mypadu - Ramateertham – Iskapalli 4 Goa Development 2016-17 97.65 97.65 97.50 Complete of Sinquerim- Baga, Anjuna- Vagator, Morjim-Keri, Aguada Fort and Aguada Jail 5 Goa Development 2017-18 99.35 99.35 97.74 Complete of Coastal Circuit II: Rua De Orum Creek - Dona Paula - Colva – Benaulim 6 Maharashtra Development 2015-16 19.06 18.10 17.61 Complete of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit - Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg (Beach & Creek), Devgad, Mitbhav, Tondavali, Mochemad and Nivati Fort 7 Odisha Development 2016-17 70.82 67.28 59.47 Complete of Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara8 Puducherry Development 2015-16 58.44 58.44 58.44 Complete of Dubrayapet – Arikamedu – Veerampattina m – Chunnambar - Nallavadu/Nara mbai - Manapet- Kalapet - Puducherry - Yanam 9 Tamil Nadu Development 2016-17 73.13 71.03 71.03 Complete of (Chennai- Mamamallapur am – Rameshwaram – Manpadu – Kanyakumari) 10 West Bengal Development 2015-16 67.99 65.07 65.07 Complete of Beach Circuit: Udaipur- Digha- Shankarpur- Tajpur- Mandarmani- Fraserganj- Bakkhlai- Henry Island TOTAL 631.39 616.43 606.32 II. Swadesh Darshan 2.0 S. State/UT Project Sanction Sanctioned Amount Amount Status No. Name Date Project Authorized Utilized Cost (in ₹ for (in ₹ Cr) Cr) utilization (in ₹ Cr)1 Andhra Developme 29.03.2025 97.52 9.75 - Work Pradesh nt of commence Suryalanka d (4.04% Beach Physical Experience Progress) 2 Goa Colva 28.08.2024 19.89 1.99 - Work Beach Commence Experience d recently 3 Puducher Karaikal 05.03.2024 20.30 - - CRZ ry beach and clearance waterfront pending experience 4 Tamil Immersive 29.02.2024 30.02 - - NMA Nadu experience Clearance at Shore pending Temple 5 Dadra Daman 29.03.2025 147.13 - - Tender and Convention Published Nagar Centre (CRZ Haveli clearance and received Daman recently) & Diu 6 Kerala Alappuzha: 29.03.2025 93.18 9.32 - Work A Global Commence Water d (11.46% Wonderland Physical Progress) 7 Lakshad Developme 29.03.2025 81.18 8.12 - Project weep nt of Eco- under Retreat, revision.* Adventure, Beach and Mice Experience at Bangaram TOTAL 489.20 29.18 NOTE: *Development of Eco-Retreat, Adventure, Beach and Mice Experience at Bangaram: In the review meeting held under Chairmanship of Hon’bleMinister for Tourism & Culture in December 2025, UT administration informed that it has been decided existing proposal will be expanded with cost enhancement, for which revised DPR is being prepared. The same will submitted to Ministry in due course. III. Challenge Based Destination Development CBDD Scheme S. State/UT Project Sanction Sanctioned Amount Amount Status No. Name Date Cost (in Cr) Authorize Utilized d for (in ₹ utilization Cr) (in ₹ Cr) 1 Gujarat The Sacred 27.03.2025 24.66 2.47 - Tender Ocean Published Retreat at recently Harsiddhi Shore 2 Kerala Varkala- 27.03.2025 25.00 2.50 - Work Dakshin Commen Kashi ced (1.54% Physical Progress) 3 Kerala Thalassery: 27.03.2025 25.00 2.50 - Work The Spritiual Commen Nexus ced (8.34% Physical Progress) 4 Puduche Development 27.03.2025 22.19 2.22 - Work rry of White recently Town commenc ed 5 Tamil Iconic 27.03.2025 20.01 2.00 - Work Nadu transformati Commen on of ced Rameswara (7.77% m Physical Progress) TOTAL 116.85 11.69IV. Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme S. State/UT Project Sanction Sanction Amount Amount Status No. Name Date ed Cost Released Utilized (in Cr) for (in ₹ utilization Cr) (in ₹ Cr) 1 Kerala Ashtamudi 26.11.2024 59.71 39.34 - Work Biodiversit commenc y and Eco- ed recreation (17.45% al Hub Physical Progress) 2 Maharashtra Ex-INS 26.11.2024 46.91 30.96 - Work Guldar commenc Underwate ed (10% r Museum, Physical Artificial Progress) Reef, and Submarine Tourism TOTAL 106.62 70.3 V. Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme S. State/UT Project Sanction Sanctione Amount Amount Status No. Name Date d Project Authorize Utilized Cost (in d for (in ₹ Cr) Cr) utilization (in ₹ Cr) 1 Goa Development 04.12.2024 16.46 4.68 0 Work of Bom Commence Jesus d (24.78% Basilica physical progress) State has proposed deviations.To be placed before CSMC. 2 Gujarat Development 12.09.2016 10.46 10.46 10.46 Completed of Dwarka 3 Gujarat Development 19.12.2018 47.12 47.12 47.12 Completed of Promenade at Somnath 4 Gujarat Development 28.03.2017 45.36 45.36 45.36 Completed of Pilgrimage Amenities at Somnath 5 Odisha Infrastructur 26.03.2015 50.00 10.00 0 Foreclosed e Development at Puri, Shree Jagannath Dham - Ramachandi - Prachi River front at Demuli under Mega Circuit 6 Tamil Development 07.10.2016 4.86 4.86 4.86 Completed Nadu of Velankanni TOTAL 174.26 122.48 107.8 VI. Assistance to Central Agencies (ACA) for Infrastructure Development List of Beach Development Projects:S. Project Name State Agency Sanction Amount Amount Sanction Status No. Date Released Utilized ed for (in ₹ Project utilization Cr) Cost (in (in ₹ Cr) Cr) 1. Development Kerala Cochin 28-10- 8.26 8.26 9.01 Compl of a Walkway/ Port 2016 eted Promenade on Trust Willingdon Island, Cochin, Kerala 2. Creation of Kerala Cochin 12-12- 4.66 3.74 4.66 Compl additional Port 2018 eted tourism Trust facilities at the Cochin Port Trust Walkway TOTAL 12.92 12.0 13.67 VII. List of Other Coastal Projects under ACA: S. Project Name State Agency Sanction Amount Amount Sanctio Status No. Date Authorized Utilized ned for (in ₹ Project utilization Cr) Cost (in ₹ Cr) (in Cr) 1. Sound & Light Daman ITDC 28-02- 6.20 6.20 7.75 Compl Show at Diu & Diu 2015 eted Fort, Diu 2. Cruise Tamil Chennai 24-09- 17.24 17.24 17.24 Compl Passenger Nadu Port 2012 eted Facilities Trust Centre in the existing Passenger Terminal at Chennai Port. 3. Central Kerala Cochin 31-03- 19.12 17.12 21.41 Compl Financial Port 2017 eted Assistance for Trust upgrading ofBirths & Backup area of Ernakulam Wharf 4. Development Kerala Cochin 13-12- 8.88 8.89 10.29 Compl of Additional Port 2019 eted infrastructure Trust in the new Cochin Port Trust Terminal 5. Developing Kerala Cochin 12-12- 1.14 1.14 1.20 Compl infrastructure Port 2018 eted at Cochin Port Trust Cruise Terminal. 6. Improvement Goa Mormug 24-08- 4.91 4.91 13.16 Forecl of immigration ao Port 2018 osed facility and trust deepening of existing cruise berth at Mormugao Port Trust 7. Development Goa Mormug 10-09- 40.0 40.0 50.00 Ongoi of ao Port 2021 ng International Trust and Domestic Cruise Terminal and allied facilities at Mormugao Port Trust, Goa 8. Cruise Goa Mormug 24-06- 7.67 7.67 8.79 Compl Terminal ao Port 2014 eted Building at trust Mormugao Port Trust 9. Construction Andhra Visakha 14-12- 29.91 29.91 38.50 Physic of Cruise-Cum- Pradesh patnam 2018 ally Costal Cargo Port Compl Terminal at Trust etedChannel berth area in Outer Harbour of Visakhapatna m Port 10. U p-gradation/ Maharas Mumbai 29-12- 12.50 12.50 12.50 Compl modernization htra Port 2017 eted to Trust International Cruise terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai 11. D evelopment Maharas Mumbai 09-08- 15.00 - 15.00 Compl of Kanoji htra Port 2016 eted Angre trust Lighthouse as a tourist Destination 12. U pgradation/M Maharas Mumbai 20-12- 30.00 30.0 37.50 Ongoi odernization to htra Port 2021 ng International Trust Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai Port Trust 13. P uri Railway Orissa MoR No Data 6.14 6.15 6.15 Compl Station eted 14. R ameshwaram Tamil MoR 28-03- 3.75 2.26 4.70 Physic Railway Nadu 2018 ally Station Compl eted 15. T hiruvanantha Kerala MoR 30-07- 4.00 3.98 5.98 Physic puram Central 2013 ally station (TVC) Compl eted TOTAL 206.46 42.39 276.34 ********

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