**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism provided a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2345 on December 15, 2025, regarding the promotion of tourism in Khajuraho. The response detailed various initiatives and schemes aimed at developing tourism infrastructure and promoting tourism destinations, while emphasizing that development of tourist destinations and products is primarily undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administrations. The Ministry complements these efforts by developing tourism infrastructure through various schemes and initiatives in consultation with the State Governments/ UT Administrations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **PRASHAD Scheme:**
* Since January 2015, the Ministry has sanctioned 54 projects in 28 States/UTs for infrastructure development at pilgrimage and heritage sites, totaling Rs.1726.74 Crore.
* No project has been sanctioned specifically for Khajuraho under the PRASHAD scheme.
* **Swadesh Darshan Scheme:**
* A project named "Development of Gwalior – Orchha – Khajuraho – Chanderi – Bhimbetka – Mandu" under the Heritage Circuit has been sanctioned with a total cost of Rs.89.82 Crore.
* Rs.89.49 Crore has been released for the above mentioned project till date.
* **Tourism Promotion:**
* Khajuraho is promoted through events, websites, social media, fairs, and festivals.
* The Dekho Apna Desh initiative, launched in January 2020, promotes domestic tourism through webinars, quizzes, seminars, promotional events, and social media.
* **Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP):**
* The scheme provides education, training, and certification to tourism service providers including tourist guides, transport providers, local artisans, and homestay providers.
* **Impact Evaluation:**
* The Ministry carries out impact evaluation of Central Sector Schemes to assess the outcomes and effectiveness of the projects from time to time.
* Key performance indicators include tourist footfall, local employment generation, income enhancement for Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and the participation of local artisans.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for primary development of tourism destinations and products.
* **Action Required:**
* Undertake the majority of on-the-ground development efforts.
**Local Tourism Industry and Community**
* **Impact:**
* Potential beneficiaries of infrastructure development, tourism promotion, and capacity building programs.
* **Action Required:**
* Participate in CBSP initiatives to enhance skills and professionalism.
**Central Government (Ministry of Tourism)**
* **Impact:**
* Complementary role in tourism development through various schemes and initiatives, including financial support.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of schemes on tourist footfall, employment, and income generation in the region.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: Central government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of policies and programs for the development and promotion of tourism in India.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): A scheme to develop pilgrimage and heritage circuits.
Dekho Apna Desh: An initiative to promote domestic tourism.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme: A scheme for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in the country.
Khajuraho: A town and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Madhya Pradesh, India, noted for its temples and tourism.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2345
ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN KHAJURAHO
2345. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is implementing Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and
Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and promotional
initiatives such as Dekho Apna Desh to develop pilgrimage and
heritage circuits and boost domestic tourism;
(b) whether any PRASHAD projects, promotional activities, Fam Tours or
Dekho Apna Desh initiatives have been approved or undertaken for
sites in the town of Khajuraho, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the
Khajuraho Lok Sabha Constituency, if so, thedetails thereof along with
the funds, works and implementing agencies;
(c) the details of the measures taken to integrate poor households, trained
tourist guides, women-led homestays, local craft markets, transport
providers and small vendors in order to directly increase the income
from tourism;
(d) whether promotional or developmental support in this region is
inadequate, if so, the reasons therefor along with the details of the
steps planned to prioritise these districts; and
(e) the details of the monitoring indicators used for tourist footfall, local
employment, SHG (Self-Help Group) earnings and artisan participation
along with the timelines for assessing impact on local welfare?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (d): Development of tourist destinations and products is primarily
undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT)
Administration. The Ministry complements the efforts of States/UTs bydeveloping tourism infrastructure through various schemes and initiatives in
consultation with the State Governments/ UT Administrations.
Since the launch of the PRASHAD Scheme in January 2015, the Ministry
has sanctioned 54 projects in 28 States/UTs at a total cost of Rs.1726.74
Crore for infrastructure development at pilgrimage and heritage sites.
No project has been sanctioned at Khajuraho under the PRASHAD
Scheme. However, the Ministry of Tourism under the Swadesh Darshan
Scheme has sanctioned a project ‘Development of Gwalior – Orchha –
Khajuraho – Chanderi – Bhimbetka – Mandu’ under the Heritage Circuit at a
total cost of Rs.89.82 Crore and a total of Rs.89.49 Crore has been released
till date.
Also, the Ministry of Tourism as part of its ongoing endeavour promotes
various tourism destinations and products of the country including
Khajuraho through promotional activities such as events, website, social
media promotions, fairs and festivals, etc.
In addition, the Ministry of Tourism had launched the Dekho Apna Desh
initiative in January 2020 for promotion of domestic tourism in the country.
Under this initiative, the Ministry promotes tourism destinations and
products of India through various activities such as Webinars, Quiz, Pledge,
Seminars, Tourism Promotional Events, Fam tours, Website, social media
etc.
Further, the Ministry of Tourism under the Scheme of “Capacity
Building for Service Providers” (CBSP) provides education, training and
certification to the tourism service providers including tourist guides,
transport providers, local artisans and homestay providers, to up-grade
manpower at every strata of tourism industry in order to capitalize the vast
tourism potential of the country to the fullest and provide professional
expertise to the local populace as well as create fresh opportunities in the
tourism sector.
(e): The Ministry of Tourism carries out impact evaluation of the Central
Sector Schemes to assess the outcomes and effectiveness of the projects
from time to time. The evaluation includes key performance indicators such
as tourist footfall, local employment generation, income enhancement forSelf-Help Groups (SHGs) and the participation of local artisans in tourism-
linked activities. In addition, the study examines the broader impact of the
schemes on local socio-economic welfare. These indicators collectively
enable a comprehensive assessment of the schemes’ contribution to
sustainable and inclusive tourism development.
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