India rises by 13 Places in Travel & Tourism Competitive Index 2015

India rises by 13 Places in Travel & Tourism Competitive Index 2015 


As per the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) 2015, of the World Economic Forum, rank of India has improved significantly to 52nd in 2015 from 65th in 2013. Improving ranking of India from 65th to 52nd position in travel and tourism competitiveness index had been set as a target in the Result Framework Document (RFD) of Ministry of Tourism for the year 2014-15.



The measures taken by the Government to improve India's tourism competitiveness, particularly regarding infrastructure and restrictive visa policy are as below:

Infrastructure:

Development and promotion of tourism is primarily responsibility of the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration. The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for tourism projects that are complete as per existing scheme guidelines and sanctioned subject to availability of scheme/funds and utilization of funds released earlier.


Pursuant to the announcement made in the Budget 2014-15, the following two new schemes were launched in 2014-15 under Central Sector: 

(i)      Swadesh Darshan - Integrated Infrastructure Development as Theme-Based Tourist Circuits.
         
Swadesh Darshan were launched for development of theme based tourist circuits in a way that caters to both mass and niche tourism in a holistic manner. Twelve Circuits namely North-East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit and Ramayana Circuit have been identified for development under this Scheme.

(ii)      National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD).
         
In the first phase, 12 cities have been identified for infrastructure development.  The cities identified are Amritsar, Kedarnath, Ajmer, Mathura, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Dwarka, Amravati, Kanchipuram, Vellankanni and Guwahati.

Visa policy:

i.        The Government of India has introduced e-Tourist Visa facility with effect from 27.11.2014. This facility is presently available to nationals of 77 countries. This is a major step taken to ease the visa regime as the e-Tourist Visa would enable the prospective visitor to apply for an Indian Visa from his/her home country online without visiting the Indian Mission and also pay the visa fee online.
ii.       The restriction of two-month gap on re-entry of foreign nationals coming to India on Tourist Visa has been lifted with effect from 4th December, 2012.

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Foreign Tourist Visits to North Eastern States Register The Growth of 39.76% in 2014 Over 2013 

Centre Releases Rs 144.68 Crore Funds for North Eastern Region in 2014-15 

The number of foreign tourist visits to North Eastern States has increased from 66302 to 84820 in 2013 and further to 118552 in 2014. 

Rs 144.68 Crore funds released for North Eastern Region in 2014-15. Rs 34.68 Crore more than actual sanctioned amount of 110 crore in 2014-15. A total of 10% of the plan allocation of the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India is earmarked for North Eastern States. Of the funds allocated to the Ministry. 

The Ministry of Tourism has launched two new plan schemes “Swadesh Darshan for integrated development of Circuits around specific themes” and “PRASAD for National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive”. They are Coastal Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, North East India Circuit, Himalayan Circuit and Krishna Circuit identified under Swadesh Darshan Scheme initially. Seven more circuits viz. Desert Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wild Life Circuit and Rural Circuit have recently been identified under the scheme. Under PRASAD scheme 12 cities have been identified. Kamakhaya in Assam features under PRASAD scheme. 

Further, following initiatives are also been taken by the Government to promote tourism in North Eastern Region: 

(i) Provision of complimentary space to the North Eastern States in India Pavilions set up at major International Travel Fairs and Exhibitions. 

(ii) 100% Central financial assistance for organizing fairs & festivals is allowed to the North Eastern States. 

(iii) Ministry of Tourism, as part of its on-going activities, annually releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns in the international and domestic markets, under the Incredible India brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country, including the lesser known destinations which have tourism potential. The Ministry of Tourism undertakes special campaigns on NE Region on TV channels to promote tourism in the regions. 

(iv) International Tourism Mart (ITM) are organized annually with the objective of showcasing the largely untapped tourism potential of North East region in the domestic and international markets. 

The project “Integrated Cable-Car and Lakeside Tourism Development Project at Loktak Lake, Manipur” has been sanctioned during 2013-14 for the State Government of Manipur at an amount of Rs.20.35 crore under Large Revenue Generating Scheme. Under this scheme, funds are allocated under Public-Private-Partnership. 

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Rs. 84495.62 Lakh Funds Sanctioned to the States/UTs Which Includes 88 Projects For Developing Tourism Destinations And Circuits in 2014-15 

Rs 84495.62 Lakh funds have been sanctioned to States/UTs for developing tourism destinations and circuits during 2014-15, which Includes Projects relating to Product/Infrastructure Development for Destinations and Circuits (PIDDC), Human Resource Development (HRD), Fairs and Festivals & Rural Tourism. 

The development, completion and promotion of tourism infrastructure projects is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. The States/UTs have State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC) which regularly review the progress of tourism infrastructure projects. 

The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for various tourism projects subject to availability of funds, inter-se priority, liquidation of pending utilization certificates against the funds released earlier and adherence to the relevant scheme guidelines. 

The Ministry of Tourism monitors the physical progress of the projects through field inspections by the officers of the Ministry, and periodical review meetings with the State Government/Union Territory Administration officers. 

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Rs 69.83 Crore Sanctioned for Development of Kakinada Hope Island Under Coastal Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme 

The Centre has sanctioned an amount of Rs 69.83 Crore in 2014-15 for the development of Kakinada Hope Island Konaseema as World class coastal & Eco Tourism Circuit in Andhra Pradesh under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. 

The Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan scheme with a vision to develop theme based tourist circuits on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner by synergizing efforts to focus on needs and concerns of all stakeholders to enrich tourist experience and enhance employment opportunities. Coastal Circuit is one of the twelve thematic circuits identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. 

The Ministry of Tourism had sanctioned the project-development of Vishakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam Beach Corridor mega circuit in Andhra Pradesh for Rs.45.88 crore under the scheme of Product/Infrastructure Development for Destination and Circuits in the year 2012-13.