Dekho Apna Desh: Fifty destinations to be developed

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that at least 50 destinations will be selected and developed as a complete package of tourism. “At least 50 destinations will be selected and developed as a complete package of tourism.

These destinations will be selected through challenge mode using an integrated and innovative approach while the focus of development of tourism would be on domestic as well as foreign tourists,” the minister told Parliament.

The Finance Minister proposed to launch an app in which all the relevant aspects of the tourist destinations would be made available, in addition to aspects such as physical connectivity, virtual connectivity, tourist guides, high standards for food streets, and tourist security, to enhance the tourist experience. To strengthen domestic tourism, the Budget further proposed that sector-specific skilling and entrepreneurship development will be dovetailed to achieve the objectives of the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative.

“To encourage tourism in the border villages, tourism infrastructure and amenities will be facilitated under the Vibrant Villages Programme,” she said. Speaking about the various tourism schemes, Sitharaman said, “’Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative was launched as an appeal by the Prime Minister to the middle class to prefer domestic tourism over international tourism, while the ‘Swadesh Darshan Scheme’ was launched for the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuit.” The minister also said that Unity Malls will be set up in states to promote and sell the state’s own One District, One Product (ODOPs), Geographical Indication (GI) and other handicraft products.. In her Budget speech, she also underlined the potential of tourism to boost jobs