Parliament Question: Promotion of Tourism in Daman and Diu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6129 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026 PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN DAMAN AND DIU 6129. SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI: Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state: (a) whether there is any roadmap of NITI Aayog to promote tourism in Daman and Diu, and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (b) whether the environmental protection is balanced with industrial development and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (c) whether any skill development schemes are proposed for local youths and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (d) whether any steps taken by Government to make Daman and Diu and international tourism hub and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE (RAO INDERJIT SINGH) Page 1 of 4(a) NITI Aayog’s report on "Challenges faced in Heritage Management in India and Policy Imperatives, 2021" states that one of the biggest challenges for the Heritage Sector of India is how to record, document, protect, preserve, reuse, interpret and showcase the wide range of protected and unprotected built heritage and archaeological spread across the vast expanse of the country which includes Daman and Diu as well. Further, NITI Aayog has supported the Ministry of Tourism through policy inputs, strategic recommendations, and inter-ministerial coordination in finalising the national-level reports. The Ministry of Tourism has prepared a roadmap to promote tourism development in Daman. Under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme, the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned ₹147.13 crore for thematic tourism infrastructure projects, including the Daman Convention Centre. Swadesh Darshan 2.0 is a revamped central scheme by the Ministry of Tourism, shifting from theme-based circuits to a holistic, destination-centric approach to develop sustainable and responsible tourism. It aims for "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" by enhancing local economies, creating jobs, and promoting eco-friendly infrastructure projects. (b) The Government has put in place targeted interventions and regulatory frameworks to ensure environmentally sustainable industrial development in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. Under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme, two key initiatives are being implemented: (i) Green Practices and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Awareness Scheme, under which 24 workshops were conducted covering 1,200 MSMEs with a financial outlay of ₹0.24 crore, aimed at promoting energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and ESG compliance; and (ii) Energy and Water Audit Reimbursement Scheme, providing financial assistance of up to ₹1 lakh per enterprise for energy and water audits, targeting 300 MSMEs for energy audits and 100 MSMEs for water audits, with a total budget of ₹4.00 crore. Page 2 of 4In addition, environmental safeguards are enforced through statutory provisions relating to wastewater treatment, recycled water quality standards, mandatory grey-water reuse systems, periodic testing through authorized laboratories, tree plantation norms linked to plot size, and mandatory adoption of renewable energy systems such as rooftop solar and solar water heaters. Enforcement mechanisms also include conditional discharge permissions, corrective actions in case of violations, and dispute resolution by the competent authority. (c) Skill development programmers have been formulated and are being implemented for local youth and artisans in Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli through a combination of institutional capacity building, national skilling schemes, and industry-linked initiatives. Key measures include establishment of Government ITIs and Polytechnics, short-term courses such as Drone Technician training, creation of AI and Drone Labs, and the setting up of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Daman, with 20% seats reserved for UT domicile students. Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0, during the last three years, 2013 candidates were enrolled out of which, 1708 were trained, and 1316 were certified across the sectors including Healthcare, IT-ITeS, Electronics, Media & Entertainment, Instrumentation, Beauty & Wellness, and Apparel. (d) The UT Administration has identified Daman–Diu as a high-priority tourism destination and is pursuing holistic tourism development through world-class infrastructure creation, diversified tourism offerings, and strategic outsourcing. Major initiatives include development of Ramsetu Seafront (Moti Daman) and Namo Path Seafront (Nani Daman) with international- standard promenades, cycling tracks, night markets, water sports facilities, and luxury tent cities. A Convention Centre at Daman is being developed under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 to promote Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism is a specialized sector of business tourism involving large groups traveling for professional events, networking, and corporate incentives. An iconic connecting Page 3 of 4bridge over the Daman Ganga River is planned to link major tourism zones, enhancing mobility and scenic value. Additionally, luxury hospitality infrastructure is being strengthened through operationalization of five-star properties in Diu through the Taj Group. These initiatives aim to position Daman–Diu as a competitive, high-value destination for domestic and international tourists. ***** Page 4 of 4