Tourism Sector and Union Budget 2022-23- Relevance for UPSC Exam
- GS Paper 3: Indian Economy– Government Budgeting; Issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Tourism Sector and Union Budget 2022-23- Context
- The Union Budget 2022-23 presented the government’s plans to increase capital expenditure by 35% and fuel growth for an economy recovering from 3 waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Union Budget 2022-23 emphasized on the development of large infrastructure, connectivity and border linkages will play a major role in boosting tourism in India.
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Tourism Sector and Union Budget 2022-23- Key provisions
- Budgetary Provision: Union Budget 2022 earmarked an additional amount of INR 2400 crores for the Ministry of Tourism. This is 18.42% higher than 2021-22.
- It is to be utilized by the Tourism Ministry for developing tourism infrastructure, marketing and promotion, and capacity building.
- PM Gati Shakti master plan for expressways: it will facilitate speedier implementation of development projects under the National Infrastructure Pipeline through the use of technology.
- This will facilitate faster movement of people and goods, seamless multimodal connectivity, economic transformation, and logistical synergy.
- This will pull forward not just the economy but will also play a role in boosting tourism in India.
- Development of 5 new river links: These rivers are Daman Ganga Pinjal, Par Tapi Narmada, Godavari Krishna, Krishna Pennar, Peenar Kaveri.
- It will boost Cruise Tourism an area that has seen great success in the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers.
- Great focus on developing roads in border regions: will greatly enhance the livelihood of people residing in border areas.
- The Ministry of Tourism has been making efforts to boost border tourism in the country.
- Border villages with sparse population, limited connectivity and infrastructure often get left out from development gains.
- Such villages on the Northern Border will be covered under a new Vibrant Villages Program.
- Activities will include the construction of village infrastructure, housing, tourist centres, road connectivity, provision of decentralized renewable energy, etc.
- Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Darshan Scheme is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Tourism under which 76 projects in 13 thematic circuits have been sanctioned by the Ministry.
- In budget, an outlay of INR 1181.30 crore has been allocated for the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
- The budget allocation will help the Ministry to complete ongoing projects under the Scheme.
- The infrastructure created will provide a better tourism experience to the tourists at smaller and lesser-known destinations.
- PRASHAD Scheme: It aims for holistic development of selected pilgrimage destinations in the country.
- In the Budget 2022-23, an amount of INR 235 crores has been allocated for the PRASHAD Scheme.
- A total of 37 projects have been sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme, of which 17 projects have been completed.
- PM-DevINE scheme: it is being implemented through the Northeast council.
- It will fund infrastructure in the spirit of PM Gati Shakti and social development based on health needs of the North East.
- This will specifically benefit youth and women of the North East.
- An initial Rs. 1,500 crores have been made available for the PM-DevINE scheme.