**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism responded on December 15, 2025, to questions regarding security protocols, audits, and efforts to strengthen tourist protection in border areas. The Ministry clarifies that tourism development is primarily the responsibility of State Governments/Union Territory Administrations, but the Ministry also undertakes initiatives to address related challenges in close coordination with State Tourism Departments and other stakeholders. The Ministry supports tourism infrastructure development through various schemes, and has sanctioned projects in border areas.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Tourism Development Responsibility:**
* Development and promotion of tourism destinations and products are primarily undertaken by State Governments/Union Territory Administrations (SGs/UTAs).
* **Ministry's Initiatives:**
* The Ministry addresses challenges in border districts, tourism development, institutional environment, and security barriers in close coordination with State Tourism Departments and other stakeholders.
* The Ministry utilizes Central Sector Schemes like 'Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)', ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)' to complement tourism infrastructure development by extending financial assistance to SGs/UTAs.
* **Financial Assistance and Projects:**
* The Ministry has sanctioned the 'Border Tourism Experience at Attari' project (Punjab) with ₹25.90 Crore, “Cultural and Heritage Stretch at Hussainiwala Border, Ferozepur” project (Punjab) with ₹25 Crore, and ‘Border Experience in Nathula' project (Sikkim) with ₹68.19 Crore during F.Y.2024-25.
* The Ministry has formulated guidelines for 'Challenge Based Destination Development' and sanctioned 5 projects under Vibrant Village Category in 5 border villages, including:
* Kibhito, Arunachal Pradesh: Kibhito Frontier Tourism - Gateway to Serenity (₹4.96 Crore)
* Rakchham, Himachal Pradesh: Tourism Infrastructure Development at Rakcham - Vibrant Village (₹4.96 Crore)
* Gnathang Village, Sikkim: Echoes of Valor: The Gnathang Valley Experience (₹5.00 Crore)
* Mana Village, Uttarakhand: Mana Haat (₹4.99 Crore)
* Jadung, Uttarakhand: Jadung Festive Ground (₹4.99 Crore)
* **Tourist Safety and Security:**
* Tourist safety and security is primarily a state subject.
* The Ministry continuously engages with State Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations to establish dedicated Tourist Police for strengthened on-ground safety.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments / Union Territory Administrations (SGs/UTAs)**
* **Impact:**
* They are primarily responsible for tourism development and promotion in their respective regions.
* They can receive financial assistance from the Ministry of Tourism through various schemes for infrastructure development.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to develop and promote tourism destinations.
* Coordinate with the Ministry of Tourism for support and initiatives.
* Work to establish dedicated Tourist Police to strengthen on-ground safety.
**Border Area Communities**
* **Impact:**
* Border communities are impacted through development projects aimed at improving tourism infrastructure.
* **Action Required:**
* Support tourism development efforts and collaborate with tourism-related entities.
**Tourists**
* **Impact:**
* Tourists will experience enhanced infrastructure and potentially increased safety measures in border areas.
* **Action Required:**
* Be aware of the tourism initiatives in the region and adhere to any guidelines provided by the tourist boards or police.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The primary government body responsible for tourism development and promotion, including in border areas.
Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0): Central Sector Schemes of the Ministry of Tourism focused on developing sustainable tourism destinations.
Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD): A sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan focused on destination development.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The ministry that the Ministry of Tourism coordinates with for security protocols in tourist places located in border areas.
Punjab: One of the states mentioned where projects related to border tourism experience are sanctioned.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2514
ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
SECURITY FOR TOURIST PLACES OF BORDER AREAS
†2514. SHRI HARISH CHANDRA MEENA:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has prescribed any specific security
protocols for tourist places located in the border areas which
includes a mechanism to establish coordination with the
Ministry of Home Affairs and the concerned State
Governments;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government conducts security audit or assessment of
tourism infrastructure and emergency preparedness in border areas
from time to time;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has taken any steps to strengthen the
tourist protection mechanism and crisis response infrastructure in
the tourist locations at border areas?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (d): Development and promotion of tourism destinations and
products is primarily undertaken by the concerned State Government
(SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA). However, the Ministry has also
undertaken initiatives to address challenges of border districts, tourism
development, institutional environment and security barriers in close
coordination with State Tourism Departments and other stakeholders.
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 complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development
in the country by extending financial assistance to the SGs/UTAs with theobjective to develop sustainable tourism destinations including border
destinations.
Ministry of Tourism under the SD2.0 Scheme has sanctioned ‘Border
Tourism Experience at Attari’ project at Amritsar, Punjab during Financial
Year 2024-25 for ₹25.90 Crore, “Cultural and Heritage Stretch at
Hussainiwala Border, Ferozepur” project in the state of Punjab for ₹25
Crore during F.Y.2024-25 under ‘Challenge Based Destination
Development (CBDD)’ as sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme and
‘Border Experience in Nathula’ project in the state of Sikkim for ₹68.19
Crore during F.Y.2024-25 under Special Assistance to States for Capital
Investment (SASCI Scheme) - Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to
Global Scale Scheme.
Further, the Ministry of Tourism has formulated guidelines for
‘Challenge Based Destination Development’ as sub-scheme of Swadesh
Darshan 2.0 Scheme. Under this scheme, Ministry of Tourism has
sanctioned 5 projects under Vibrant Village Category at 5 border village
destinations. The details are provided below:
S. Destination, Project Name Sanction
No. State/UT Cost
(₹ Crore)
1. K ibitho, Kibhito Frontier Tourism - Gateway 4.96
Arunachal Pradesh to Serenity
2. R akchham Tourism Infrastructure 4.96
Himachal Pradesh Development at Rakcham - Vibrant
Village
3. G nathang Village Echoes of Valor: The Gnathang 5.00
Sikkim Valley Experience
4. M ana Village Mana Haat 4.99
Uttarakhand
5. J adung Jadung Festive Ground 4.99
Uttarakhand
(e): Safety and Security of tourists is essentially a State subject.
However, the Ministry of Tourism has been continuously taking up the
matter with all the State Governments and Union Territory (UT)
Administrations for setting up of dedicated Tourist Police to strengthen
on-ground safety mechanism for tourists.
************