Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget 2023-24 in Parliament today on February 01, 2023 said that at least 50 destinations will be selected and the destination will be developed as a complete package. He said that these destinations would be selected in a challenge mode, adopting an integrated and innovative approach, while the focus of tourism development would be on domestic tourists as well as foreign tourists.
Centre to Develop 50 Tourist Destinations
The Finance Minister proposed to launch an app in which all relevant aspects would be made available on one app, apart from aspects like physical connectivity, virtual connectivity, tourist guides, food street and higher standards of tourist safety.
In order to strengthen domestic tourism, sector specific skill enhancement and entrepreneurship development will be coordinated in the budget 2023-24, thereby achieving the objective of the Dekho Apna Desh initiative. The Finance Minister announced that tourism infrastructure and development in border villages would be promoted under the Vibrant Rural Programme.
Speaking about the various tourism schemes, Smt. Sitharaman said “‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative was launched as an appeal by the Prime Minister to the middle class to prefer domestic tourism over international tourism while ‘Swadesh Darshan Scheme’ was launched for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuit.”
The Minister said that the States have their own capitals to promote and market their own ODOP (One District One Product), GI products and other handicraft products and to provide space for such products from the rest of the States. Will be encouraged to set up a Unity Mall in or at most major tourist centers or in their financial capital.
Talking about the potential of tourism in India, the Finance Minister said that the country has immense attractiveness for domestic and foreign tourists. There is a lot of potential in tourism which should be harnessed. There is a huge opportunity for jobs and entrepreneurship in this sector, especially for the youth. Tourism promotion will be undertaken on a mission mode, involving active participation of states, convergence of government programs and public-private partnerships.
50 destinations to be developed as a complete package of tourism
Tourism infrastructure and amenities will be facilitated under the Vibrant Villages Programme
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— PIB India (@PIB_India) February 1, 2023