As part of the 100 days Agenda, Union Ministry of Tourism has issued guidelines for development and promotion of Caravan, Wellness and Heliport tourism.
Caravan Tourism
Considering the diverse tourism products and the multitude of landscapes in India, Caravans and Caravan Parks have a potential to add an exciting new facet to tourism in Incredible India and would attract a wide range of market segments including young people, families, senior citizens and international tourists.
Under the guidelines, the Caravans would be popularized and promoted by developing Caravan Parks in public private and PPP mode. The Caravan Parks would be approved by the Ministry of Tourism once they develop the minimum required facilities such as parking bays, tourist amenities centre, landscaping, toilets and adequate measures for safety and security of tourists. The caravan parks will also provide electricity, water and sewerage disposal facilities to the Caravans which are parked. The caravan parks shall maintain environmental friendly and responsible practices.
Ministry of Tourism shall provide central assistance, which could be upto Rs 5 crore per destination to State Governments/U.T. Admn. under its existing scheme of product infrastructure development of destination/circuits for development of caravan parks in Government sector. Assistance to the level of 25% of the cost can also be provided for procurement of caravans in public sector corporations.
Heliport Tourism
With a view to promote tourist destinations in hilly and remote areas of the country, the Ministry of Tourism has also issued guidelines to extend financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for construction of heliports under the Scheme of Product/ Infrastructure Development for Destinations and Circuits.
The projects for construction of heliports will have to conform to the technical requirements prescribed by the Director General of Civil Aviation. Financial assistance will be provided for construction of heliports as a component of destination development projects. The upper limit of financial assistance for heliports has been fixed at Rs. 75 lakhs.
Two projects for construction of heliports at Mangan and Geetang Khola in Sikkim have also been sanctioned under this new initiative of the Ministry of Tourism. Both the projects are likely to be completed within two years.
For the first time any where in the country, the State of Sikkim has been granted Central Financial Assistance for two destination projects that include development of Heliport viz. Destination Development of Mangan Tourist Axis including Heliport in North Sikkim for Rs. 3.29 crore and Destination Development of Geetang Khola waterfall including Heliport in West Sikkim for Rs. 3.25 crore. These would facilitate easy access to the destination mentioned above which are of immense tourism potential, where the tourists are otherwise discouraged due to long and taxing travel through hilly roads.
Ø Mangan Tourist Axis including Heliport in North Sikkim
The Mangan Tourist Axis offers multiple options for the visitors as it envelops many places that attract the interest of tourists, scholars and nature lovers. The lower altitude zone showcase the beautiful green countryside setting with River Teesta meandering between the mountains whereas the higher altitude takes one to the snowy peaks, vast glaciers and rugged hills. There are places still unexplored and amazing splendors outside the scale of human intervention that displays the true color of Mother Nature.
Ø Destination Development of Geetang Khola waterfall including Heliport in West Sikkim
Geetang Khola waterfall is located amidst the very serene environs with awe-inspiring natural beauty and razor-edged cliffs. The existence of a voluminous waterfall cascading down the mountain about 300 feet high makes this place more significant in term of tourist interest. A large numbers of tourists also visit this place to witness the variety of rhododendrons that blossoms during April to May. This is a stopover tourist spot for visitors to onward destinations like Soreng, Daramdin, Hilley and Barsey. The place Hilley where the Heliport has been proposed is the Base camp for Barsay Rhododendron Park, which is frequented by trekkers and nature lovers.
Wellness Tourism
India has a vast potential to promote its traditional system of healings i.e Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha. In order to promote the Wellness Tourism in the Overseas Market, Ministry of Tourism has revised the guidelines of Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) to include the Wellness Tourism Service Providers and Facilitators in its purview. Under the revised guidelines the eligible Wellness Tourism Service Providers i.e representative of the Wellness Centers accredited by the State Governments and Facilitators (Travel Agents/Tour Operators approved by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) are qualified for financial assistance under MDA Scheme for participation in approved Wellness Tourism Fairs/Wellness Conferences and allied Road shows abroad. A new set guidelines for accreditation of wellness centers are being finalized by AYUSH in partnership with National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH). Once these guidelines are finalized and operationalised then Wellness Centers accredited as per these new guidelines will be considered under MDA Scheme for undertaking the tourism promotional activities abroad.
With a view to promote tourist destinations in hilly and remote areas of the country, the Ministry of Tourism has also issued guidelines to extend financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for construction of heliports under the Scheme of Product/ Infrastructure Development for Destinations and Circuits.
The projects for construction of heliports will have to conform to the technical requirements prescribed by the Director General of Civil Aviation. Financial assistance will be provided for construction of heliports as a component of destination development projects. The upper limit of financial assistance for heliports has been fixed at Rs. 75 lakhs.
Two projects for construction of heliports at Mangan and Geetang Khola in Sikkim have also been sanctioned under this new initiative of the Ministry of Tourism. Both the projects are likely to be completed within two years.
For the first time any where in the country, the State of Sikkim has been granted Central Financial Assistance for two destination projects that include development of Heliport viz. Destination Development of Mangan Tourist Axis including Heliport in North Sikkim for Rs. 3.29 crore and Destination Development of Geetang Khola waterfall including Heliport in West Sikkim for Rs. 3.25 crore. These would facilitate easy access to the destination mentioned above which are of immense tourism potential, where the tourists are otherwise discouraged due to long and taxing travel through hilly roads.
Ø Mangan Tourist Axis including Heliport in North Sikkim
The Mangan Tourist Axis offers multiple options for the visitors as it envelops many places that attract the interest of tourists, scholars and nature lovers. The lower altitude zone showcase the beautiful green countryside setting with River Teesta meandering between the mountains whereas the higher altitude takes one to the snowy peaks, vast glaciers and rugged hills. There are places still unexplored and amazing splendors outside the scale of human intervention that displays the true color of Mother Nature.
Ø Destination Development of Geetang Khola waterfall including Heliport in West Sikkim
Geetang Khola waterfall is located amidst the very serene environs with awe-inspiring natural beauty and razor-edged cliffs. The existence of a voluminous waterfall cascading down the mountain about 300 feet high makes this place more significant in term of tourist interest. A large numbers of tourists also visit this place to witness the variety of rhododendrons that blossoms during April to May. This is a stopover tourist spot for visitors to onward destinations like Soreng, Daramdin, Hilley and Barsey. The place Hilley where the Heliport has been proposed is the Base camp for Barsay Rhododendron Park, which is frequented by trekkers and nature lovers.
Wellness Tourism
India has a vast potential to promote its traditional system of healings i.e Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha. In order to promote the Wellness Tourism in the Overseas Market, Ministry of Tourism has revised the guidelines of Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) to include the Wellness Tourism Service Providers and Facilitators in its purview. Under the revised guidelines the eligible Wellness Tourism Service Providers i.e representative of the Wellness Centers accredited by the State Governments and Facilitators (Travel Agents/Tour Operators approved by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) are qualified for financial assistance under MDA Scheme for participation in approved Wellness Tourism Fairs/Wellness Conferences and allied Road shows abroad. A new set guidelines for accreditation of wellness centers are being finalized by AYUSH in partnership with National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH). Once these guidelines are finalized and operationalised then Wellness Centers accredited as per these new guidelines will be considered under MDA Scheme for undertaking the tourism promotional activities abroad.
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