Parliament Question: Performance review of tourism circuits

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1579 ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026 PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF TOURISM CIRCUITS 1579 SHRI SANJAY SETH: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) whether the Ministry has conducted a performance review of tourism circuits to assess their economic viability and environmental sustainability; (b) the key objectives and measurable outcomes envisioned under the proposed five-year Tourism Action Plan (2026-2030); (c) the details of steps taken to sustain the recent surge in foreign tourist arrivals recorded in 2025; (d) the measures adopted to integrate eco-tourism and local community participation in upcoming circuit projects; and (e) whether a monitoring framework exists to evaluate project execution, return on investment and visitor satisfaction and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (e): Ministry of Tourism launched its Swadesh Darshan scheme in 2014-15 with the idea to develop tourism infrastructure under identified circuits and sanctioned 76 projects in the country. The Ministry has engaged Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore for assessment of physically completed projects sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism under various schemes including Swadesh Darshan scheme. The Ministry revamped Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the idea to develop sustainable tourist destinations and sanctioned 53 projects in the country. In addition, the Ministry has also sanctioned 38 projects under ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)’, a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan scheme to develop tourism infrastructure at destination level. 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 projects sanctioned under the above-mentioned schemes complement the efforts taken by the State Governments/UT Administrations for development of tourism infrastructure, amenities and experiences in the country and are at implementation stage. Various aspects pertaining to tourism development including sustainability and community participation are embedded under these schemes. While funds under Swadesh Darshan scheme are provided in the form of grant in aids, funds underSASCI scheme are extended as long term loan. Implementation, Operation and management of these projects and created assets is undertaken by the concerned State Government/UT Administration. The Ministry of Tourism regularly monitors progress of project execution through review meetings with the State Governments/UT Administrations and encourages them to undertake robust Operation and Management (O&M) in order to enhance visitor satisfaction. *****