The Tourism Ministry’s Swadesh Darshan initiative now includes five Northeast Indian states: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura. The progress of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, a major project aimed at the integrated development of theme-based tourism circuits across India, was recently announced by the Tourism Ministry.
The Swadesh Darshan scheme, which was introduced in 2014–15, has since evolved into Swadesh Darshan 2.0, which places a greater focus on creating responsible and sustainable travel destinations. Under the Swadesh Darshan initiative, 76 projects totaling Rs. 5,287.90 crore in investment were approved; 75 of these projects have been physically finished. 34 new projects totaling Rs. 793.20 crore have been sanctioned under the redesigned Swadesh Darshan 2.0. ‘Challenge-Based Destination Development’ is another sub-scheme that the ministry has introduced under Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
In four theme areas—Spiritual Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Vibrant Village Program, Ecotourism, and Amrit Dharohar Sites—the new initiative is seeking proposals for the development of tourist destinations. Officials from the Tourism Ministry claim that 42 locations have already been chosen for improvement under different tourism-related themes. Another project that supports the Swadesh Darshan plan is the PRASHAD plan. The plan, which has been allocated Rs. 1,646.99 crore, intends to improve the infrastructure at important pilgrimage locations.
Twenty-three of the 48 projects included in the plan have been finished. The Tourism Ministry has authorized 40 projects in 23 states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura, in response to the 2024–25 Budget announcements. Through the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), Rs. 3,295.76 crore is allocated for these projects. An impressive 18.89 million foreign visitors arrived in India in 2023, bringing in a whopping Rs. 2,31,927 crore in foreign exchange earnings.
