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Tourism and Culture
Tourism and Culture
Overview
The Tourism Division provides strategic and directional guidance to the Union and State Governments for the development of the tourism sector. The Division seeks to develop India into the most preferred destination for tourists through the development of responsible and sustainable tourism policies, focusing on niche tourism, eco-tourism and wellness tourism, infrastructure development, capacity development, and increasing tourist footfall.   The Culture Division seeks to develop, preserve and promote India’s arts, culture and heritage, with a greater policy and planning coherence in the sector.
Core Functions

Policy Formulation at National and State Levels

The Tourism and Culture Division regularly reviews and analyses strategies and policies for tourism and culture development at the national and state levels and provides directional inputs. The Division provides policy suggestions and takes a lead role in new policy formulation for the two sectors.  

Project Analysis and Project Evaluation

a) Examination of various SFC/EFC project proposals. b) Examination of externally aided projects and the furnishing of comments on recommendations for financial support. c) Examination of Cabinet Notes for CCEA approval. d) Examination of feasibility reports, master plans and research study reports.  

Preparation of Master Plans for Tourism Development

The Vertical facilitated the master plan development of the iconic site of Khajuraho in consultation with the Ministry of Tourism, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh, and other ministries/departments.  

Research Studies

a) Strategy paper on adventure tourism b) Tourism State Preparedness Index c) Strategy paper on Buddhist tourism d) Improving Heritage Management in India e) Research Study on ‘Challenges Faced in Heritage Management in India and Policy Imperatives’ f) Research Study on ‘Visitor Facilities in 50 of 116 Ticketed Monuments in India’  

Coordination with Ministries and States

Coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, and the Archaeological Survey of India for policy initiatives, and inter-sectoral coordination with other ministries, such as the Ministry of Environment and Forest, and Climate Change, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Stakeholders’ Consultation

The Vertical has held several consultations with eminent experts from the industry, academia, and civil society organisations to revive the sector, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Line Ministries
  • Ministry of Tourism
  • Ministry of Culture
Projects
  • Developing a roadmap to enhance the number of blue flag beaches from 8 to 20
  • Facilitating the development of a centralised, GIS-based online national heritage database
  • Digital and virtual interpretation of world heritage Buddha circuit sites
Reports
Title Access
Working Group Report on Improving Heritage Management in India
Who’s Who
Name Designation Email ID
Sh. CH. P. Sarathi Reddy Adviser ps[dot]reddy[at]gov.in
Sh. Amit Bhardwaj Deputy Adviser amit[dot]bhardwaj[at]gov.in
Ms. Chandana Ganta Research Officer chandana[dot]ganta[at]gov[dot]in