Budget proposes rating of iconic tourist centres based on quality and facilities

Presenting the Interim Budget 2024-25 in Parliament, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid emphasis on comprehensive development of tourist centers for  achieving the vision of  ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

Accordingly, the interim Budget proposes to encourage states to take up comprehensive development of iconic tourist centres, branding and marketing them at global scale. Towards this, she said, long-term interest-free loans will be provided to states for financing such development on matching basis. In order to promote comprehensive development of the centres, a framework for rating of the centres based on quality of facilities and services will be established, she added.

The finance minister highlighted the fact that India’s middle class also now aspires to travel and explore; and tourism, including spiritual tourism, has tremendous opportunities for local entrepreneurship.

In order to address the emerging fervour for domestic tourism, projects for port connectivity, tourism infrastructure, and amenities will be taken up on the islands, including Lakshadweep and this will help in generating employment, she pointed out.

In addition to domestic tourism, India’s diversity is known to global audience. Sitharaman said the success of organizing G20 meetings in sixty places presented diversity of India to global audience and the economic strength has made the country an attractive destination for business and conference tourism.