**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the Ministry of Tourism's initiatives for the development and promotion of eco-tourism and sustainable tourism practices. Key objectives include enhancing tourist experiences through holistic destination development and ensuring benefits reach local communities. The information was provided by the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Responsibility for Tourism Development:** Development and promotion of tourism, including eco-tourism and sustainable practices, are primarily undertaken by respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.
* **Ministry of Tourism's Role:** The Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations for tourism infrastructure and experiences, based on project proposals, scheme guidelines, government directions, and fund availability.
* **Swadesh Darshan Scheme Revamp:** The Swadesh Darshan Scheme has been revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 to foster sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.
* **Key Features of Swadesh Darshan 2.0:** This includes consulting local communities and stakeholders during project preparation, encouraging the use of renewable energy and eco-friendly materials, and developing accessible infrastructure.
* **'Challenge Based Destination Development' Initiative:** Launched under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, this initiative aims for holistic destination development to improve tourist experiences across the value chain, transforming destinations into sustainable and responsible ones.
* **Project Review and Management:** The Ministry periodically reviews project progress and encourages State Governments/UT Administrations to manage projects robustly for the benefit of local communities and stakeholders.
* **Environmental Sustainability Strategy:** Environmental Sustainability is a core component of the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, circulated to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.
* **Travel for LiFE Programme:** This program was initiated to encourage tourists and tourism businesses to adopt sustainable tourism practices.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments / Union Territory Administrations**
* **Impact:** They are primarily responsible for the development and promotion of eco-tourism and sustainable tourism. They receive financial assistance from the Ministry of Tourism for infrastructure and experience development and are encouraged to undertake robust operation and management of sanctioned projects.
* **Action Required:** Submit project proposals to the Ministry of Tourism for financial assistance, consult with local communities and stakeholders for destination development projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, and ensure robust operation and management of sanctioned projects to benefit local communities.
**Local Communities and Stakeholders**
* **Impact:** They are to be consulted during the preparation of destination development projects. They are expected to benefit from the robust operation and management of tourism projects, particularly through sustainable and responsible tourism initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Participate in consultations for destination development projects.
**Tourists and Tourism Businesses**
* **Impact:** They are encouraged to adopt sustainable tourism practices through the "Travel for LiFE" program. They will experience enhanced tourist experiences through the development of sustainable and responsible destinations under Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
* **Action Required:** Adopt sustainable tourism practices.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: Primary government body responsible for tourism development and promotion in India.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme: A key tourism scheme by the Ministry of Tourism, revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 for sustainable tourism development.
National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism: A policy framework formulated by the Ministry of Tourism to guide sustainable tourism practices.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Union Minister for Tourism and Culture who provided information in Rajya Sabha.
State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration: Entities responsible for undertaking the development and promotion of tourism, including eco-tourism and sustainable tourism practices.
Ministry of Tourism
PROMOTION OF ECO-TOURISM
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 4:46PM by PIB Delhi
Development and promotion of tourism including promotion of eco-tourism and sustainable tourism
practices is primarily undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT)
Administration.
Ministry of Tourism under its various schemes provides financial assistance for development of tourism
infrastructure and experiences in the country by extending financial assistance to the SGs/UTAs on receipt
of the project proposals from them, in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government directions,
availability of funds, inter-se priority etc. The components considered for sanctioning under the projects
also include those related to sustainability, safety, sanitation etc. as per project requirement.
The Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Ministry has been revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the
objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations. It includes consultation with local
communities and stakeholders while preparing projects for development of destinations and encourages
use of renewable energy, eco-friendly material, development of accessible infrastructure etc.
Ministry of Tourism launched ‘Challenge Based Destination Development’ as an initiative under Swadesh
Darshan 2.0 scheme with the intention to undertake holistic development of the destination to enhance
tourist experience across all points of tourist value chain, which also focuses on transforming destinations
as sustainable and responsible destinations.
Ministry of Tourism periodically reviews the progress of projects sanctioned under its various schemes
and encourages State Government/UT Administrations to undertake robust operation and management of
these projects so that the benefits accruing from the same reaches to the local community and
stakeholders.
Environmental Sustainability is a key pillar in the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism formulated
by the Ministry and circulated to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. In line with
the strategy, Travel for LiFE programme was initiated to encourage tourists and tourism businesses to
adopt sustainable tourism practices.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Rajya Sabha today
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M Annadurai
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