Annual Report January, 2020 - December, 2020
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Annual Report January, 2020 - December, 2020 Ministry of Tourism Government of India Ministry of Tourism | 1 Contents 2 | Annual Report 2020-21 Contents Chapter No. Title Page No. 1 Tourism – An Overview 5 2 Ministry of Tourism and its Functions 13 3 Ministry of Tourism- Role, Synergy and Convergence 17 4 Tourism Infrastructure Development 21 5 New Tourism Products (Niche Tourism) 27 6 Hotels and Travel-Trade 37 7 Human Resource Development 49 8 Publicity and Marketing 57 9 International Cooperation 69 10 India Tourism Development Corporation Limited (ITDC) 75 11 Statistics, Surveys and Studies 89 12 North-Eastern Region and Jammu & Kashmir- Special Emphasis 95 13 Gender Equality 101 14 Welfare Measures 105 15 Vigilance 109 16 Court Cases 113 17 Departmental Accounting Organisation 119 18 Important Audit Observations 123 19 Implementation of Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 127 20 Progressive Use of Official Language Hindi 131 21 Swachh Bharat Mission 135 I India tourism Offices in India 140 II India tourism Offices Abroad 141 III Senior Officers of the Ministry 142 IV Details of Amount released under Swadesh Darshan, 143 PRASHAD,Central Agencies and Fairs & Festivals V Surveys and Studies 154 Ministry of Tourism | 3 4 | Annual Report 2020-21 CHAPTER-1 Tourism - An Overview Ministry of Tourism | 5 CHAPTER 1 Tourism - An Overview 1.1 The growing influence of the tourism December, 2020, e-visa facility has been sector as an economic powerhouse and its extended to the nationals of 171 Countries potential as a tool for development are under 5 sub-categories i.e ‘e-Tourist visa’, ’e- irrefutable. Not only does the tourism sector Business visa’, ‘e-medical visa’, ‘e-Medical spearhead growth, it also improves the quality Attendant Visa’ and ‘e-Conference Visa’. The of people’s lives with its capacity to create large latest country added is Togo. The e-Visa is valid scale employment of diverse kind. It supports for entry through 28 designated Airports and environmental protection, champions diverse 5 designated seaports. cultural heritage and strengthens peace in the 1.6 The visa fee has been rationalized and world. has been fairly reduced wherein e-Tourists Visa 1.2 Facilitation as well as strengthening of fee reduced to $80 for 5 years, $40 for 1 year tourism in India is the main objective of and one-month e-tourist Visa fee reduced to Ministry of Tourism. Augmenting tourism $10 for lean season and $25 for peak season. infrastructure, easing of visa regime, assurance 1.7 During 2020, a total of 8.38 million (Jan- of quality standards in services of tourism Nov) foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa service providers, projection of the country as registering a growth of -67.2%. a 365 days’ tourist destination, promotion of 1.8 sustainable tourism etc. are some of the policy For tourism infrastructure creation in areas which need to be constantly worked the country, Ministry of Tourism has two major upon to increase and facilitate tourism in India. schemes, launched during 2014-15, viz. Swadesh Darshan - Integrated Development 1.3 FTAs during 2020 were 24.62 million of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits and (Jan-Nov)(Provisional) with a growth of - PRASHAD- Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and 74.6% over same period of the previous year. Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive for 1.4 FEEs during the period during Jan 2020 development of tourism infrastructure in the – March 2020 were Rs.44,203 crores (Provisional country including historical places and estimates) with a growth of -15.6% over same heritage cities. period of previous year. FEEs during the period 1.9 Swadesh Darshan scheme has a vision during Jan 2020 – March 2020 were US$ 6.159 to develop theme based tourist circuits on the billion (Provisional estimates) with a growth of principles of high tourist value, competitiveness -17.1% over same period of previous year. and sustainability in an integrated manner by 1.5 Facilitative visa regime is a pre synergizing efforts to focus on needs and requisite for increasing inbound tourism. The concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist Ministry of Tourism takes the initiative with experience and enhance employment Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of opportunities. Under the scheme, fifteen External Affairs for achieving the same. As on thematic circuits have been identified for 6 | Annual Report 2020-21 development, namely: North-East India Circuit, 1.14 In pursuance to the appeal made by Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal the Honourable Prime Minister during Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Independence day speech asking every citizen Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural to visit at least 15 destinations by the year 2022, Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, to promote domestic tourism in India, the Heritage Circuit, Tirthankar Circuit & Sufi Ministry had launched the Dekho Apna Circuit. Since the inception of the scheme, an Desh initiative in January 2020. Dekho Apna amount of Rs. 5684.67 crore has been sanctioned Desh is promoted extensively on social media for 76 projects with a total release of Rs. 4278.88 accounts and website of the Ministry and by crore (till 31.12.2020) covering all thematic Domestic India Tourism offices. Under this circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. initiative Ministry has been organizing 1.10 Under PRASHAD scheme, 57 sites have webinars, quiz, pledge, discussions to keep been identified at present in 29 States/UTs for connected with the stake-holders and to development. Since the inception of the encourage citizens to travel within the country. scheme, an amount of Rs. 1160.55 crore has 1.15 The Ministry of Tourism has evolved been sanctioned for 36 projects in 24 States Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria with the cululative release of Rs. 622.08 crore (STCI) for major segments of the tourism till 12th Jan. 2021. industry, namely accommodation, tour 1.11 Ministry of Tourism extends its operators, Beaches, Backwaters, Lakes and financial support to Central Agencies like River sectors applicable for the entire country. Archeological Survey of India (ASI) , Port The Criteria have been evolved after Trusts of India, India Tourism Development consultations with the various stakeholders. Corporation (ITDC) etc. to develop the potential The Ministry is considering to renew a destinations under their jurisdictions/control. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with A total of Rs.39.77 crore has been released in the Responsible Tourism Society of India 2020 to various Central Agencies for creation (RTSOI) earlier known as Eco Tourism Society of tourism infrastructure related. of India (ESOI) to inform and educate tourism stakeholders about the importance of 1.12 Ministry of Tourism has identified 19 Sustainable and Responsible Tourism practices iconic sites in the country for development and ensuring and promoting Sustainable and under Iconic Tourist Sites Development Project Responsible practices in the tourism industry. and proposes to carry out the development of The target group includes hoteliers, tour these sites in collaboration with various Central operators, individuals from transport industry, Ministries, State Governments, Urban Local resort managers, tourist guides, community Bodies, Local Community and Industry representatives and government departments players/Private sector. (culture, forest, environment, Archaeological 1.13 Ministry of Tourism has taken up the Survey of India (ASI), museums, district initiative of identification, diversification, officials) etc. A total of 5 such Workshops at development and promotion of niche tourism Jaipur, Goa, Guwahati, Bhopal and products of the country like Cruise, Adventure, Ahmedabad have been held so far. Medical, Wellness, Golf, Polo, Meetings 1.16 To conform to the expected standards Incentives Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE), for different classes of tourists, especially from Eco-tourism, Film Tourism, Sustainable the point of view of suitability for international Tourism etc. to overcome ‘seasonality’ tourists, Ministry of Tourism classifies hotels challenge in tourism and to promote India as under the star rating system. Under this system, a 365 days destination. hotels are given a rating, from One Star to Three Ministry of Tourism | 7 Star, Four and Five Star with or without alcohol, for residential or lodging purposes with a daily Five Star Deluxe, Heritage (Basic), Heritage tariff of Rs.7500 per day per unit or above, the (Classic), Heritage (Grand), Legacy Vintage tax will be 18%. (Basic), Legacy Vintage (Classic) and Legacy 1.18 Government has now exempted the Vintage (Grand) and Apartment Hotels. cruise tourists arriving with e-visa from the Ministry has introduced online system of requirement of bio-metric enrolment. The receiving, processing and conveying/ granting entry seaports for tourists availing e-visa are approvals for hotel project, Hotel classification Mumbai, Cochin, Mormugao, Chennai and / re-classification status to functioning hotels and New Mangalore. project level approval for hotel under 1.19 construction. This online process has also been E-Conference Visa in line with e- integrated with payment gateway. The Ministry conference Visa for Government/P.S.U. also has voluntary schemes for approval of Conferences, would be granted for private accommodation units such as Timeshare conferences organized by private persons/ Resorts, Operational Motels, Guest Houses, Bed companies/organizations. & Breakfast / Homestay Establishments, Tented 1.20 Triple entry is permitted for e-Medical Accommodation, as well as Online Travel Visa and for e-Medical Attendant Visa and Aggregators, Stand-alone Air Catering Units, extension may be granted up to 6 months on Convention Centres, Standalone Restaurants. case to case basis on merits of each case by the 1.17 The Ministry of Tourism has taken up Foreigners Regional Registration Officer the GST taxation slabs with the Ministry of (FRRO)/ Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) Finance, Government of India, from time to concerned. Medical Attendant Visa will be co- time, as a result of which the following changes terminus with the validity of the principal e- have been effected in GST rate slabs with visa holder.