**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism launched the Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI) for tour operators, accommodation, beaches, backwaters, lakes, and rivers sectors. Tourism operators approved by the Ministry must pledge commitment towards safe, honorable and sustainable tourism practices. The National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism was formulated and circulated to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Training programs for Alternate Livelihood Programme (ALP) and Paryavaran Naavik Certificate (PNC) were conducted during 2023-24.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI):**
* Launched by the Ministry of Tourism for tour operators, accommodation, beaches, backwaters, lakes, and rivers sectors.
* **Pledge for Tour Operators:**
* Tourism operators approved by the Ministry of Tourism must sign a pledge for commitment towards "Safe & Honorable Tourism and Sustainable Tourism."
* **National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism:**
* Formulated and circulated to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.
* Travel for Life (TFL) program initiated to encourage sustainable tourism practices.
* No separate budget allocated under the National Strategy.
* **Training Programs:**
* Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change conducted training programs for 210 people during 2023-24.
* Training focused on Alternate Livelihood Programme (ALP) and Paryavaran Naavik Certificate (PNC) at five Ramsar sites.
* **Eco-Friendly Measures for Hotels:**
* Hotels at the project stage should incorporate eco-friendly measures like Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), Rain Water Harvesting System, waste management system, pollution control, introduction of non-Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) equipment for refrigeration and air conditioning, measures for energy and water conservation etc.
* **Swadesh Darshan 2.0:**
* Revamped for integrated development of tourism destinations with States/UTs and local governments.
* "Challenge Based Destination Development" sub-scheme aims for holistic destination development and enhanced tourist experience.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tour Operators**
* **Impact:** Need to sign a pledge committing to "Safe & Honorable Tourism and Sustainable Tourism."
* **Action Required:** Sign the pledge and implement sustainable tourism practices.
**Accommodation Units and Tourism Service Providers**
* **Impact:** 2787 Accommodation Units and 1633 Tourism Service Providers are recognized by the Ministry of Tourism.
* **Action Required:** Maintain sustainability standards to retain Ministry recognition.
**State Governments and Union Territory Administrations**
* **Impact:** Required to align with the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism.
* **Action Required:** Implement sustainable tourism practices and encourage participation in the Travel for Life (TFL) program.
**Hotels**
* **Impact:** Required to incorporate eco-friendly measures at the project stage.
* **Action Required:** Incorporate eco-friendly measures like Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), Rain Water Harvesting System, waste management system, pollution control, introduction of non-Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) equipment for refrigeration and air conditioning, measures for energy and water conservation etc.
**Ramsar Sites**
* **Impact:** Sites for Alternate Livelihood Programme (ALP) and Paryavaran Naavik Certificate (PNC) training programs.
* **Action Required:** Support training programs and the development of nature tourism.
**Tourism Destinations**
* **Impact:** Integrated development of tourism destinations with Swadesh Darshan 2.0
* **Action Required:** Improve the quality of destination and enhance tourist experiences.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The central ministry responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to tourism in India.
Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI): A set of guidelines and standards established to promote sustainable practices within the tourism industry in India.
Swadesh Darshan 2.0: A revamped scheme for the integrated development of tourism destinations in partnership with states/UTs and local governments, promoting sustainable and responsible tourism.
Travel for Life (TFL): A programme initiated to encourage tourists and tourism businesses to adopt sustainable tourism practices.
Ramsar Sites: Specific wetland sites of international importance where the Ministry of Tourism collaborates with the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change to promote nature tourism.
Ministry of Tourism
Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India
प्रव तथ: 08 DEC 2025 2:45PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Tourism has launched a Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI) for
three major segments of tourism industry, namely Tour Operators, Accommodation and Beaches,
Backwaters, Lakes and Rivers sectors. The criterion has been adopted by the stakeholders. The tour
operators approved by the Ministry of Tourism have to sign a pledge for commitment towards “Safe &
Honorable Tourism and Sustainable Tourism” to fully implement Sustainable Tourism practices, consistent
with the best environment and heritage protection standards, such that the present tourism resource
requirements optimize both local community benefit and future sustainable uses. As on date, 2787
Accommodation Units and 1633 Tourism Service Providers are recognized by Ministry of Tourism.
National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism was formulated by the Ministry and circulated to the State
Governments and Union Territory Administrations. In line with the strategy, Travel for Life (TFL)
programme was initiated to encourage tourists and tourism businesses to adopt sustainable tourism
practices. No separate budget has been allocated under the National Strategy for Sustainable tourism.
Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change conducted
training programme of 15 days each for 210 persons during 2023-24 on Alternate Livelihood Programme
(ALP) and Paryavaran Naavik Certificate (PNC) at five Ramsar sites [Sultanpur National Park (Haryana),
Yashwant Sagar Dam and Sirpur Lake, Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Bhitarkanika Mangrove and Chilika
Lake (Odisha)]. The convergence of the two Ministries aims at supporting the development of Nature
Tourism at the Ramsar Sites for preserving and enhancing the local cultural and natural resources.
As per the guidelines of Ministry of Tourism, hotels at the project stage itself are required to incorporate
various eco-friendly measures like Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), Rain Water Harvesting System, waste
management system, pollution control, introduction of non-Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) equipment for
refrigeration and air conditioning, measures for energy and water conservation etc. The Swadesh Darshan
scheme has been revamped to Swadesh Darshan 2.0 for integrated development of tourism destinations in
partnership with the States/UTs and local governments for promoting sustainable and responsible tourism
in the country. “Challenge Based Destination Development”, a sub-scheme under Swadesh Darshan 2.0
aims for holistic development of a destination to enhance tourist experience across all of tourism value
chain to transform our tourist destinations as sustainable and responsible destinations.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
***
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com(रलीज़ आईडी: 2200327) आगंतुक पटल : 484
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