Amritsar, Gaya, Ajmer put on govt’s heritage tourism map

In a major effort to boost tourism, the government has announced an allocation of Rs 500 crore for the creation of five tourist circuits with specific themes.

The debut Budget of the Narendra Modi-led government gave special importance to pilgrimage and heritage tourism while announcing new schemes to give the sector a boost.

“India’s rich cultural, historical, religious and natural heritage provides a huge potential for the development of tourism and job creation as an industry,” finance minister Arun Jaitley said while presenting the Budget.

“The Sarnath-Gaya-Varanasi Buddhist circuit would also be developed with world class tourist amenities,” he said.

Jaitley also announced the launching of National Heritage city Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) for conserving the history of these cities. “The programme will be launched in cities such as Mathura, Amritsar, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Vellankani, and Ajmer with a provision of `200 crore in the Budget,” he said.

A National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) with an outlay of `100 crore is also proposed to be launched in this financial year.

The minister announced an allocation of `500 crore for the creation of five tourist circuits with specific themes.

“Setting up of five tourist circuits is very encouraging. Such measures will give boost to the sector and help in creating more employment opportunities,” Major Madukar Katragadda, Director, KDJ HolidayScapes & Resorts Ltd said.