Tourism Ministry response lacks district-wise financial details for Tamil Nadu community tourism

The Ministry of Tourism provided the official response.

Asked and answered by: Asked by: Shri Selvam G and Dr. Rani Srikumar; Answered by: Ministry of Tourism (Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat).

What the government said

• The Ministry stated that development of tourist destinations is primarily the responsibility of State Governments, with the Ministry complementing efforts through central schemes.
• Total central assistance sanctioned for projects in Tamil Nadu is Rs. 390.74 Crores under schemes including Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, SASCI, and ACA.
• Specific projects include the Chennai-Mamallapuram-Rameshwaram circuit (Rs. 73.13 Cr), Nandavanam Heritage Park (Rs. 99.67 Cr), and Eco Park at Ooty (Rs. 70.23 Cr).
• The Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme encourages sustainable tourism, local community consultation, and employment generation for local youth and women.
• The government approved the development of 1,000 tribal homestays under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme with support of up to Rs. 5 Lakh per unit for new construction.
• Approximately 29,490 candidates were trained in Tamil Nadu under the Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP) scheme from 2014-15 to 2025-26.
• Funds for fairs and festivals (e.g., Indian Dance Festival at Mamallapuram) were sanctioned annually, with amounts ranging from Rs. 8.00 Lakh to Rs. 50.00 Lakh between 2015-16 and 2025-26.

Also in the document

• The answer does not provide district-wise details of financial assistance as requested in part (b) of the question, instead listing specific sanctioned projects.
• The answer does not provide specific figures for the number of local artisans, self-help groups, or community organizations benefited, nor the exact employment generated, as requested in part (d).
• The answer does not explicitly list 'further steps proposed' as requested in part (e), but describes ongoing schemes and initiatives like 'Paryatan Mitra' and 'Travel for LiFE'.