Parliament Question: Recognition of Munrothuruthu as National Tourism Destination

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4990 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 RECOGNITION OF MUNROTHURUTHU AS NATIONAL TOURISM DESTINATION 4990.SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has received any proposal from the State Government of Kerala or any other authority for recognition and inclusion of Munrothuruthu in Kollam district as a nationally promoted tourism destination; (b) whether Munrothuruthu has been considered under any Central schemes such as Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD or other thematic tourism circuits; (c) the criteria adopted by the Government for inclusion of destinations under national tourism promotion programmes; (d) whether any financial assistance has been sanctioned or is under consideration for infrastructure development, eco-tourism, backwater tourism or heritage tourism at Munrothuruthu; and (e) the details of the steps proposed to promote Munrothuruthu as a sustainable tourism destination of national importance, considering its unique backwater ecosystem and biodiversity? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (e): Development and promotion of tourism destinations is primarily done by the concerned State Government (SG)/UT Administration (UTA). However, Ministry of Tourism under its various schemes including ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD)’, ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’, ‘Challenge Based Destination Development – CBDD’ (an initiative under Swadesh Darshan scheme) and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ provides financial assistance for development of tourisminfrastructure and experiences in the country including in the state of Kerala, on receipt of the project proposals from State Governments/UT Administrations, in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government directions, availability of funds, inter-se priority etc. The above-mentioned schemes are approved till March, 2026 and presently there is no proposal for consideration before the Ministry. Details of the projects sanctioned under SD, SD2.0, CBDD and PRASHAD schemes in the state of Kerala is annexed. Government of India in 2024-25 sanctioned the projects ‘Ashtamudi Biodiversity and Eco-recreational Hub in Kollam’ for Rs. 59.71 Crore and ‘Global Gateway to Malabar’s Cultural Crucible in Sargaalaya’ for Rs. 95.34 Crore under its initiative for ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)- Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’. In addition, the Ministry of Tourism holistically promotes various tourism destinations and products of the country including those in the state of Kerala through various promotional tools such as website, events, social media etc. *******ANNEXURE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4990 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 REGARDING RECOGNITION OF MUNROTHURUTHU AS NATIONAL TOURISM DESTINATION RAISED BY SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH Details of the projects sanctioned under SD, SD2.0, CBDD & PRASHAD schemes in the state of Kerala: Scheme Circuit/Year Name of the project Sanction of Sanction Amount (₹ In Crore) Swadesh Eco Circuit Development of Pathanamthitta- 64.08 Darshan 2015-16 Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady Spiritual Development of Sabarimala - 46.54 Circuit Erumeli-Pampa-Sannidhanam 2016-17 Spiritual Development of Sree Padmanabha 78.08 Circuit Arnamula 2016-17 Rural Circuit Development of Malanad Malabar 57.35 2018-19 Cruise Tourism Project Spiritual Development Sivagiri Sree 66.42 Circuit Narayana Guru Ashram- 2018-19 Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara Sree Subrahmania- Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam Swadesh 2024-25 Alappuzha: A Global Water 93.18 Darshan Wonderland 2.0 2024-25 Enhancement of Tourist Experience 75.87 at Malampuzha Garden and Leisure Park 2023-24 Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary 13.81 Experience CBDD 2024-25 Varkala-Dakshin Kashi 25.00 2024-25 Thalassery: The Spritiual Nexus 25.00 PRASHAD 2016-17 Development at Guruvayur Temple 45.19 *****