**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the Ministry of Tourism's initiatives for developing and promoting tourism, specifically focusing on safety and digital facilities in Dahod, Gujarat. It details various schemes and strategies aimed at enhancing tourism infrastructure, including the 'Swadesh Darshan' and 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)' schemes. The information provided was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 9th February 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Tourism Development Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Tourism complements State Governments/Union Territories' efforts in tourism infrastructure development through schemes like 'Swadesh Darshan (SD)', 'Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)', 'Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)', and 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)'.
* The 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)' scheme aims to develop iconic tourist centers to a global scale.
* **Focus on Tourist Facilitation:**
* Sanctioned components under these schemes include digital interventions, tourist facilitation centers, interpretation centers, health, sanitation & safety measures, connectivity improvements, and site development.
* **MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) Promotion:**
* The Ministry has formulated guidelines for MICE Promotion Bureaus and a National Strategy and Roadmap for the MICE Industry.
* 'Meet in India' is a sub-brand within 'Incredible India' to promote India as a MICE destination.
* A Digital MICE Catalogue showcases infrastructure and facilities in over 60 Indian cities that hosted G20 meetings.
* **Project Sanctions in Gujarat:**
* Currently, there are no projects under consideration for sanctioning in Gujarat, including Dahod Lok Sabha Constituency.
* The document provides a list of projects already sanctioned in Gujarat under the Swadesh Darshan, CBDD, PRASHAD, and SASCI schemes, detailing the scheme, project name, circuit/destination, year of sanction, and sanction amount.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments/Union Territory Administrations (SG/UTAs)**
* **Impact:** SG/UTAs are responsible for tourism development and safety but receive complementary financial assistance and scheme guidelines from the Ministry of Tourism.
* **Action Required:** SG/UTAs should align their tourism projects with the scheme guidelines of the Ministry of Tourism and submit proposals accordingly.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Tourism**
* **Impact:** The Ministry drives tourism development through policy-making, financial assistance, and promotional initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement and monitor the effectiveness of the various schemes and initiatives to enhance tourism infrastructure and promote India as a global tourist destination.
**Stakeholder: Tourism Industry Stakeholders (Hotels, Travel Agencies, Event Planners etc.)**
* **Impact:** Benefit from improved infrastructure, promotional activities, and the potential for increased tourism revenue.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the resources provided by the Ministry of Tourism, such as the Digital MICE Catalogue, to attract events and tourists to Indian destinations.
**Stakeholder: Tourists and Visitors**
* **Impact:** Expected to benefit from enhanced safety measures, improved facilities, and a more seamless and enriching travel experience.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the available facilities and safety guidelines to make the most of their travel experience in India.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The central ministry responsible for development and promotion of tourism in India, including managing related schemes and infrastructure projects.
Swadesh Darshan: A central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism focused on developing tourism infrastructure and promoting specific tourism circuits.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): A scheme by the Ministry of Tourism that aims to enhance pilgrimage and heritage sites by providing financial assistance for infrastructure development.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): An initiative to support states in developing iconic tourist centers and attract investments in the tourism sector.
Gujarat: The state where specific tourism projects, including those in Dahod and under various schemes, are being implemented.
Ministry of Tourism
Safety And Digital Facilities for Tourists in Dahod,
Gujarat
Posted On: 11 FEB 2026 12:21PM by PIB Delhi
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
State Government/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 the Ministry of
Tourism in Gujarat under Swadesh Darshan, CBDD, PRASHAD and SASCI scheme is as under: -Scheme/ Name of the project/ Circuit/ Year of Sanction
sanction Amount
Sub-scheme Experience Destination
(Rupees in
(Category)
Crore)
Swadesh Darshan Development of Ahmedabad- Heritage Circuit 2016-17 59.17
Rajkot- Porbandar –Bardoli-
Dandi
Swadesh Darshan Development of Vadnagar- Heritage Circuit 2016-17 91.12
Modhera
Swadesh Darshan Development of Junagadh- Gir Buddhist Circuit 2017-18 26.68
Somnath- Bharuch-Kutch-
Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana
Challenge Based Transformation of Sharmishtha Vadnagar 2024-25 17.29
Destination Lake: Light & Culture
(Culture &
Development
Heritage)
(CBDD)
Challenge Based THOL: Transformative Tourism, Thol Village 2024-25 9.96
Destination Harmonious Sustainability,
(Ecotourism and
Development Optimized Skilling, Leading
Amrit Dharohar
(CBDD) Technology
Sites)
Challenge Based The Sacred Ocean Retreat at Porbandar 2024-25 24.66
Destination Harsiddhi Shore
(Spiritual
Development
Tourism)
(CBDD)
PRASHAD Development of Dwarka Dwarka 2016-17 10.46
PRASHAD Development of Pilgrimage Somnath 2016-17 45.36
Amenities at Somnath
PRASHAD Development of Promenade at Somnath 2018-19 47.12
Somnath
PRASHAD Development of Pilgrimage Banaskantha 2022-23 50.00
Facilities at Ambaji Temple,
Banaskantha, Gujarat
SASCI Ecotourism Destination at Kerly Porbandar 2024-25 99.50
(Mokarsagar) in PorbandarSASCI Tented City and Convention Dhordo 2024-25 51.56
Centre in Dhordo
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Lok Sabha on 9th February 2026.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2226219) Visitor Counter : 151
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