Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, chaired the Tourism Ministers’ conference in Shillong, where he highlighted the government’s ambitious plans to bolster the tourism sector across India. The conference saw the participation of Tourism Ministers from North Eastern, Eastern States, and Union Territories.
During the meeting, Shekhawat discussed the revamped Swadesh Darshan scheme, a key initiative under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. “The Swadesh Darshan scheme, launched by Prime Minister Modi, provides financial assistance to state governments and Union Territories for tourism development. From 2014-15 to 2018-19, the government undertook 76 projects worth 5,000 crore rupees, including 16 in the Northeast,” he explained.
Shekhawat announced the introduction of Swadesh Darshan 2, a revised version of the scheme focusing on sustainability and responsible tourism. “Under the revised scheme, 57 destinations across 32 states and UTs have been identified, and 23 projects worth 715 crore rupees have been launched,” he added.
The Minister also provided updates on the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme, which focuses on pilgrimage and spiritual tourism. “So far, 46 projects worth 1,624 crore rupees have been initiated under the PRASAD scheme,” he noted, while introducing a new sub-scheme under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 dedicated to developing child-friendly destinations.
Shekhawat urged states to submit proposals across various sectors, including spiritual tourism, culture and heritage, eco-tourism, and the vibrant village program. “The Ministry has selected 42 destinations across various tourism themes in 25 states and UTs for development under this scheme,” he highlighted.
He also emphasized the importance of collaboration with the private sector, underlining the government’s efforts to attract private investments through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. “These meetings will focus on developing iconic tourist destinations globally, enhancing alternative destinations, and improving marketing, promotion, safety, connectivity, cleanliness, and ease of doing business in the tourism sector,” Shekhawat stated.
The Union Minister praised the progress made under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, noting the significant infrastructure developments over the past decade. “India has set new benchmarks under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in the past 10 years. The global perspective on India has changed, with people around the world looking at India with renewed enthusiasm,” he said.
During the marathon seven-hour meeting, Shekhawat expressed his appreciation for the presentations and commitment shown by the states. “I am excited about the presentations and the dedication shown by each state. I would like to extend my gratitude to all states, ministers, and officials for their valuable contributions,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, Shekhawat addressed challenges in the sector, particularly regarding connectivity and the development of homestays. “We have noted all observations and challenges, and we are committed to finding solutions to enhance our tourism sector,” he concluded.
The Union Minister will continue his visit to Meghalaya by traveling to the South West Khasi Hills district, where he will chair a review meeting with state and district-level officers and visit infrastructure sites.