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under the scheme. Under this project,
the Ministry has developed tourism
infrastructure facilities like Tourist
Information Centre, Meditation
Centre, Organic Eco Tourism centre,
Log Huts, Zip Line, Flower Exhibition
Centre, Walkways, Souvenir Shops,
Cafeteria, Rain Shelters, Wayside
Amenity, Last Mile Connectivity,
Parking, Public Toilets etc,.
Inaugurating the project, Mr. K. J.
Alphons appreciated the efforts taken
by the state in completing the project
and added that Gangtok is incredibly
clean that it can match with any city
in the world in terms of its level
of cleanliness and hospitality. The
Minister also commented upon the
initiatives of the State Government
in promoting home stays in Sikkim
which provide jobs to citizens of
all segments and also appreciated
the State Government’s steps for
Sustainable Tourism and Dispersing
destinations policy. The Minister added
that the Union Tourism Ministry has
sanctioned another project in Sikkim
under Swadesh Darshan scheme, the
work of which is 75% complete.
The ongoing Swadesh Darshan
project in Sikkim that the Ministry
has sanctioned is “Development of
North East Circuit: Singtam– Maka-
Temi-Bermoik Tokel- Phongia- Namchi
–Jorthang- Okharey- Sombaria-
Daramdin- Jorethang- Melli” in
September 2016 for Rs.95.32 crores.
The work under the project is in
progress.
The Ministry is carrying out number
of activities to handle the issues on
above fronts. On one hand the Ministry
has given great impetus to the tourism
infrastructure in the region under its
flagship schemes of Swadesh Darshan
and PRASHAD. For development of
Tourism infrastructure, the Ministry
has sanctioned 16 projects for Rs.
1349.04 crores covering all North
Eastern States under its schemes of
Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD. The
Ministry is actively working with other
Central Ministries like Mo/Culture,
M/o DONER, M/o Road Transport and
Highways, M /o Civil Aviation etc. for
development of Tourism in the region.
Swadesh Darshan scheme is one
of the flagship scheme of Ministry
of tourism for development of
thematic circuits in the country in
a planned and prioritised manner.
Under this scheme the Government is
focussing on development of quality
infrastructure in the country with
objective of providing better experience
and facilities to the visitors on one
hand and on other hand fostering the
economic growth. The scheme was
launched in 2014 -15 and as on date
the Ministry has sanctioned 77 projects
worth projects for Rs. 6121.69 Crore
to 30 States and UTs. 30 projects /
major components of these projects are
expected to be completed this year. 11
projects have been inaugurated as on
date under the scheme.
For promotion of North East region
Ministry carries out special promotion
in domestic and international markets
highlighting regions diversity, tourism
products and its rich culture. The
Ministry of Tourism has also set up
Hotel Managements and Food Craft
Institutes for creating skilled manpower
in tourism and hospitality sector in the
North Eastern Region.
The efforts of Ministry have shown
positive results and the Foreign tourist
arrivals in the region has shown an
upward trend over the years. The region
received a total of 1.69 lakh foreign
tourist visits during 2017 as against
1.45 lakh in 2016 registering a growth
of 16.7% over 2016. The Domestic
Tourist Visits reached to 95.47 lakhs
in the year 2017 against 77.71 lakhs
registering impressive double digit
growth of 22.8% over 2016. The
increased number of tourists in turn has
created better employment opportunity
for the local population in the region.
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