New Delhi, Dec 18 (NationPress) The government announced on Thursday the approval of 40 projects amounting to Rs 3,295.76 crore under the ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment’ (SASCI) initiative aimed at enhancing the tourism industry.

For the financial year 2024-25, the Ministry of Tourism has released operational guidelines for the SASCI initiative, which seeks to fully develop iconic tourist destinations across the nation while promoting and marketing them on a global stage.

In a written response in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, stated that the projects funded under this scheme were selected based on proposals from the respective state governments. These were evaluated according to various parameters such as site connectivity, tourism infrastructure, carrying capacity, sustainability measures, operational management, project impact, and tourism marketing strategies, all in line with the institutional framework established in the scheme's guidelines.

The guidelines also promote engagement with stakeholders and local community representatives by state governments during the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).

While the state governments are responsible for implementing and managing the sanctioned projects, the Ministry of Tourism regularly reviews their progress and encourages timely advancement.

Additionally, the Ministry has revamped the Swadesh Darshan Scheme into Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) to create sustainable tourism destinations. As part of this, 53 projects have been approved for Rs 2,208.27 crore under the SD2.0 scheme, along with 36 projects for Rs 648.11 crore under the CBDD initiative.

Currently, an e-visa facility is available for nationals from 171 countries, covering nine sub-categories for entry via 31 designated international airports and 6 major seaports. The entire e-visa process is conducted online, as noted by Shekhawat.