**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer given in Lok Sabha on 09.02.2026 by the Minister of Tourism. The question was about the initiatives taken for tourism in Dahod, Gujarat. The response details various schemes and initiatives by the Ministry of Tourism to promote tourism, with a focus on financial assistance to States/Union Territories and specific projects sanctioned in Gujarat.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Tourism Development Responsibility:** Development and promotion of tourism destinations, including safety, primarily falls under the purview of State Governments (SG) and Union Territory Administrations (UTA).
* **Central Government Schemes:** The Ministry of Tourism complements state efforts through central sector schemes such as:
* Swadesh Darshan (SD)
* Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)
* Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)
* Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD).
* **Financial Assistance:** The Ministry provides financial assistance to SGs/UTAs based on project proposals.
* **SASCI Scheme:** The Government of India has sanctioned projects under the ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale' scheme to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centers and promote them globally.
* **Scheme Components:** Sanctioned components focus on tourist facilitation, digital interventions, and core tourism products like tourist facilitation centers, interpretation centers, health, sanitation, safety, connectivity, and site development.
* **MICE Promotion:** The Ministry has formulated guidelines for setting up MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) Promotion Bureaus and a National Strategy and Roadmap for the MICE Industry.
* **"Meet in India" Sub-Brand:** Launched as a specialized sub-brand within "Incredible India" to promote India as a MICE destination.
* **Digital MICE Catalogue:** Developed a comprehensive Digital MICE Catalogue highlighting infrastructure and facilities in 60+ Indian cities that hosted G20 meetings.
* **Projects in Gujarat:** While the Ministry considers project proposals, there are currently no proposals under consideration for sanctioning projects in Gujarat, including the Dahod Lok Sabha Constituency.
* **Past Projects in Gujarat:** Several projects have been sanctioned in Gujarat under Swadesh Darshan, CBDD, PRASHAD, and SASCI schemes, with varying amounts sanctioned between 2016-17 and 2024-25.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA)**
**Impact**
Primarily responsible for tourism development and promotion, including safety. They can benefit from financial assistance from the Ministry of Tourism for project proposals under various schemes.
**Action Required**
To submit project proposals to the Ministry of Tourism to avail financial assistance under relevant schemes.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Tourism**
**Impact**
Involved in complementing state efforts through central sector schemes and providing financial assistance. Responsible for promoting India as a tourism and MICE destination.
**Action Required**
Continue to evaluate project proposals from states/UTAs, promote central sector schemes, and promote India as a MICE destination.
**Stakeholder: Tourism Industry Stakeholders (Hotels, travel agencies, etc.)**
**Impact**
Benefit from the development of tourism infrastructure and increased tourist footfall due to various initiatives and schemes.
**Action Required**
Stay informed about the government schemes and initiatives. Consider exploring the Digital MICE Catalogue for planning events.
**Stakeholder: Gujarat Tourism Sector**
**Impact**
While Dahod doesn't have current projects under consideration, Gujarat has received funding for projects under various schemes in the past (Swadesh Darshan, CBDD, PRASHAD and SASCI).
**Action Required**
Continue submitting project proposals under relevant schemes to the Ministry of Tourism for future considerations.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The central ministry responsible for the development and promotion of tourism in India, including administering schemes and formulating policies.
Swadesh Darshan: A central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in India.
PRASHAD: Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive, a central sector scheme to enhance religious tourism in India.
Dahod, Gujarat: A specific location in India, mentioned in the document as a focus for tourism initiatives and safety.
SASCI: Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment - Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale, a scheme for the comprehensive development of iconic tourist centers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1514
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
SAFETY AND DIGITAL FACILITIES FOR TOURISTS IN
DAHOD, GUJARAT
†1514. SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the special initiatives taken to increase the safety and
digital facilities for the tourists at the historical and religious places
of Dahod Lok Sabha Constituency;
(b) whether the Government has any plan to set up a 'City-Level
Convention Promotion Bureau' for organising business conferences in
the said Constituency keeping in view its tourism development; and
(c) the current status of establishment of the digital platforms and
integrated visitors facilitation centres to bring the tourist places of
the said Constituency on the global map?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (c): Development and promotion of tourism destinations and products
including handling of safety related issues is primarily undertaken by the
concerned State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA).
However, the Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of
‘Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’, ‘Challenge Based
Destination Development (CBDD), a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan scheme
and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive
(PRASHAD)’ scheme complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure
development in the country by extending financial assistance to the
SGs/UTAs on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned StateGovernment/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 components sanctioned under the above-mentioned schemes are
primarily those related to facilitation of tourists and visitor including digital
interventions and may cover those related to tourism core products such as
tourist facilitation centre, interpretation centre, tourism activities, health
sanitation & safety, connectivity, parking, general site development, soft
interventions etc. The Ministry of Tourism has included an illustrative list of
components in the scheme guidelines of Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
Ministry of Tourism has formulated guidelines for setting up of MICE
Promotion Bureaus which have been circulated to all States and Union
Territories and has also formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for
MICE Industry to promote the growth of MICE industry in the country. Ministry
introduced 'Meet in India' as a specialized sub-brand within the 'Incredible
India' campaign. This sub-brand aims to enhance promotional initiatives,
showcasing India as an appealing MICE destination equipped with top-tier
connectivity, cutting-edge infrastructure, a vibrant knowledge hub and a
plethora of distinctive tourist attractions.
The Ministry has developed a comprehensive Digital MICE Catalogue,
highlighting infrastructure and facilities across 60+ Indian cities that
successfully hosted G20 meetings during India’s presidency. This resource
catalogue is designed to support global and national MICE planners in
organizing events in India, while promoting Indian cities as premier
destinations on the world stage.
While receiving project proposals under different schemes is part of the
process, presently there is no proposal under consideration before the
Ministry of Tourism for sanctioning of projects in Gujarat including in Dahod
Lok Sabha Constituency. The details of the project sanctioned by theMinistry of Tourism in Gujarat under Swadesh Darshan, CBDD, PRASHAD and
SASCI scheme is as under: -
Scheme/ Name of the project/ Circuit/ Year of Sanction
Sub-scheme Experience Destination sanction Amount
(Category) (Rupees
in Crore)
Swadesh Development of Heritage 2016-17 59.17
Darshan Ahmedabad- Rajkot- Circuit
Porbandar –Bardoli- Dandi
Swadesh Development of Heritage 2016-17 91.12
Darshan Vadnagar- Modhera Circuit
Swadesh Development of Buddhist 2017-18 26.68
Darshan Junagadh- Gir Somnath- Circuit
Bharuch-Kutch-
Bhavnagar- Rajkot-
Mehsana
Challenge Transformation of Vadnagar 2024-25 17.29
Based Sharmishtha Lake: Light (Culture &
Destination & Culture Heritage)
Development
(CBDD)
Challenge THOL: Transformative Thol Village 2024-25 9.96
Based Tourism, Harmonious (Ecotourism
Destination Sustainability, Optimized and Amrit
Development Skilling, Leading Dharohar
(CBDD) Technology Sites)
Challenge The Sacred Ocean Porbandar 2024-25 24.66
Based Retreat at Harsiddhi (Spiritual
Destination Shore Tourism)
Development
(CBDD)
PRASHAD Development of Dwarka Dwarka 2016-17 10.46
PRASHAD Development of Somnath 2016-17 45.36
Pilgrimage Amenities at
Somnath
PRASHAD Development of Somnath 2018-19 47.12
Promenade at SomnathPRASHAD Development of Banaskantha 2022-23 50.00
Pilgrimage Facilities at
Ambaji Temple,
Banaskantha, Gujarat
SASCI Ecotourism Destination Porbandar 2024-25 99.50
at Kerly (Mokarsagar) in
Porbandar
SASCI Tented City and Dhordo 2024-25 51.56
Convention Centre in
Dhordo
*****