MoT Scales Tourism Infrastructure, Heritage Development & Community-Based Models for Sustainable Growth
SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Tourism (MoT)
The Ministry of Tourism has outlined a consolidated update on Indiaβs multi-year tourism development pipeline, centred on strengthening physical infrastructure, destination planning, and community-based tourism. Under PRASHAD, Swadesh Darshan and its revamped version Swadesh Darshan 2.0, the government has sanctioned projects across States/UTs to upgrade connectivity, amenities, sanitation, last-mile access, and visitor facilities. Together, these schemes form the backbone of Indiaβs effort to build sustainable, high-quality tourism infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on pilgrimage, heritage, eco and rural circuits.
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 is now being implemented through a destination-centric approach, including the Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD) framework, which supports states in planning and upgrading specific destinations rather than only circuit-wide interventions. This marks a structural shift in how tourism development is prioritised β focusing on quality, sustainability, and competitive selection of proposals for impact-driven outcomes.
A parallel push is underway to strengthen heritage and culture-linked tourism, with PRASHAD projects upgrading major pilgrimage centres and Swadesh Darshan circuits enhancing heritage corridors. These interventions aim to deliver culturally rich, environmentally conscious tourism experiences that combine site preservation with improved visitor management.
MoT has also advanced inclusive tourism, with special focus on rural, tribal and under-served regions. Through the sub-scheme Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PMJUGA), support has been approved for developing tribal homestays, promoting responsible tourism and creating livelihood opportunities for tribal communities. This complements village-level projects and eco-rural circuits designed to ensure broader community participation and benefit-sharing.
Taken together, the initiatives reflect a national strategy for sustainable tourism growth, integrating infrastructure development, heritage conservation, community-based tourism and environmental stewardship. The approach links long-term resilience with economic opportunity, positioning tourism as a vehicle for employment, cultural preservation and balanced regional development.
Policy Relevance:
Indiaβs tourism reforms now operate as a system-of-systems strategy: destination-centric planning, heritage revitalisation, community-based models and infrastructure upgrades are being combined to drive local employment, strengthen cultural assets, and promote sustainable travel. For policymakers, the shift signals that tourism is no longer treated as a standalone sector but as a lever for regional development, community income diversification, conservation-led growth and inclusive rural advancement.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can states deepen local participation and long-term maintenance systems so that upgraded destinations remain sustainable, community-led and economically viable beyond initial project completion?
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https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2196921
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