With an aim to foster community-based tourism, the Assam Tourism Development Corporation has launched the Amar Alohi Rural Homestay Scheme 2022-23. Unveiled by state Tourism Minister, Jayanta Malla Baruah, sanction letters were conferred to deserving clusters in Guwahati.
The “Amar Aalohi” Homestay Scheme, steered by the Tourism Department, Government of Assam, is designed to propel homestay facilities, carve out self-employment avenues, and offer authentic hospitality encounters to travellers. Implemented by the Govt of Assam, Tourism Department through Assam Tourism Development Corporation, the initiative aims to invigorate tourism by harnessing the rich cultural tapestry and warm hospitality of local communities.
During the ceremony, sanction letters were bestowed upon five clusters, namely Dima Hasao Adventure Association (Dima Hasao), Umswai Valley Green & Clean Protection Committee (West Karbi Anglong), Dichang Welfare Foundation/Siupaatphaa Social Foundation (Charaideo), Dihing Patkai SHG (Dibrugarh), and Chiram Social Foundation Deori Community (Majuli), signifying a significant stride towards community-driven tourism development.
Minister Mallabaruah underscored the scheme’s transformative potential in uplifting local communities. He emphasised its dual benefits of fostering economic prosperity for beneficiaries while enhancing the tourism landscape with authentic local experiences.
Kumar Padmapani Bora, IRS, Secretary, Tourism, and Managing Director of Assam Tourism Development, elucidated the eligibility criteria and benefits under the Amar Alohi Rural Homestay Scheme. He highlighted that groups or clusters comprising a minimum of 10 homestay units near various tourist attractions are eligible for the scheme, aiming to catalyze tourism activities within local communities.
Key benefits under the scheme include Capital Subsidy, where beneficiaries will receive a capital subsidy of 90 per cent of the total project cost, up to a maximum of INR 1 crore, facilitating the construction of new homestay units and bolstering local infrastructure.
Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has cancelled registrations of 79 homestays in Ujjain over unhygienic conditions and failure to adopt standard norms laid by the department for opening a homestay. Homestays have seen a spike in Ujjain with a sharp jump in applications from locals amid increasing tourist footfall and ahead of Simhastha in 2028.
With Promotional Subsidy, the group will be entitled to a promotional subsidy covering 50 per cent of the total promotional expenses, up to INR 2.5 lakh per year for five years, aimed at enhancing visibility and attracting more tourists.An operational subsidy of up to INR 2.5 lakh per year will be provided if the group achieves a minimum of 100 paid room nights by guests annually, incentivizing operational efficiency and service excellence.
The issuance of sanction letters is contingent upon compliance with scheme conditions, including the execution of agreements with ATDC. These agreements, valid for seven years, entail provisions regarding unit usage, maintenance standards, and participation in training programs.
ATDC remains committed to promoting sustainable tourism and fostering the socio-economic development of local communities in Assam.
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The Ministry of Tourism (MoT), in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), has initiated its training program in Odisha as well. This initiative, termed the Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme, reached a pivotal juncture on January 5, 2024, with the launch of its fourth training module aimed at empowering local communities, boat owners, and Forest department officials of Bhitarkanika National Park.
The initiative encompasses two distinct training programs: the Alternative Livelihood Program (ALP) and the Paryatan Navik Certificate (PNC), both spanning a duration of 15 days each. The collaborative effort between the Odisha State Wetlands Authority (OSWA) and the Mangrove Forest Division, Rajnagar, identified and selected a cohort of 60 participants (30 for each course) from the local communities in and around Bhitarkanika.
Several new developments in the pipeline will make Punjab a strong player globally, said Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, Principal Secretary Tourism & Cultural Affairs, in conversation with ETTravelWorld. In 2024, Punjab’s tourism strategies will be characterised by a blend of sustainability, technology integration, and a focus on local experiences, besides developing tourist sites in PPP along the state’s major rivers to push adventure and water tourism activities.
The primary objective of this endeavor is to equip and certify these individuals as proficient nature-guides. This strategic move aligns with the overarching mission of the Amrit Dharohar Initiative led by the MoEF&CC, aiming to bolster livelihood prospects for local communities by harnessing the nature-tourism potential of Ramsar Sites nationwide.The program’s phased approach has already marked significant milestones. In the initial phase, five priority Ramsar sites were earmarked for focused attention, namely Sultanpur National Park, Sirpur Wetland, Yashwant Sagar, Bhitarkanika National Park, and Chilika Lake.
Notably, the successful completion of the first three training programs for Sultanpur National Park, Sirpur Wetland, and Yashwant Sagar was done in December 2023.
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The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently initiated an impactful project known as the Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme-2023. This collaborative effort took flight on December 8, 2023, at Sultanpur National Park, a designated Ramsar Site nestled in Haryana.
Particularly emphasizing nature-tourism and its integral role, the joint effort between MoT and MoEFCC aims to tap into the nature-tourism potential of Ramsar Sites countrywide. Sultanpur stands out as one of the initial five priority Ramsar Sites identified in the first phase, alongside Bhitarkanika and Chilika in Odisha, as well as Yashwant Sagar and Sirpur in Madhya Pradesh. These sites have been earmarked for targeted training programs under the Alternative Livelihood Programme (ALP), showcasing the commitment to fostering local communities.
Also central to this endeavour is the Alternative Livelihood Programme, a facet of the Amrit Dharohar initiative. The main objective is to empower and train local community members residing near Ramsar sites. By partnering with the Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM) and the MoEFCC, the initiative aims to fortify nature tourism at these sites while concurrently offering alternative means of livelihood for the local populace.
In an interview with ETTravelWorld, DG Tourism, Govt of India, Manisha Saxena shared that this is going to be an international level promotional event to be hosted with the international buyers. The detailed discussions will be carried out at the ICPB CIC event starting today in Gandhinagar. The aim is also to catalogue the destinations used during the G20 and maximise their potential by hosting a variety of events, she said.
The first phase focuses on Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, where, in conjunction with the State Forest Department, 30 individuals from the local communities will undergo comprehensive training to become certified nature-guides.The Amrit Dharohar initiative was introduced by the MoEF&CC earlier in June 2023 as a part of the budget announcement for 2023-24. Its core mission revolves around spotlighting the distinctive conservation significance of Ramsar Sites across India while actively creating employment avenues and bolstering local livelihoods.
The collaboration extends beyond governmental bodies to encompass a network of formal and informal institutions, ministries, agencies, and individuals, all rallying together for this noble cause.
The inauguration of this event was done by Manisha Saxena, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, in the presence of Dr Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Prof Alok Sharma, Director of the Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management, officials from MoEF&CC, and senior officials from the Haryana Forest Department, among others.
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The Delhi government has approved a scheme for a premium bus service that aims at reducing intracity usage of private vehicles and help reduce pollution, officials said on Monday. The government uploaded the draft of the Delhi Motor Vehicles Licensing of Aggregator (Premium Buses) Scheme, 2023 on its website in August and sought public feedback. The city government hopes to encourage the middle and upper-middle classes to switch to public transport through the scheme.
According to the scheme, a licence holder shall ensure that no premium bus shall be engaged or acquired with a registration date beyond three years from the date of notification of the scheme.
“Subsequently, induction of any new Premium bus, the prevailing emission norms, BS-VI must be compliant, either Air-Conditioned CNG or electric buses. After January 1, 2025 the induction of only electric buses shall be allowed, no CNG-operated bus even if having BS-VI compliance shall be allowed to be inducted under this scheme,” it said.
The scheme mandates that an aggregator shall take measures to ensure the safety and security of women passengers and provide a rapid response mechanism, including a panic button on its mobile and web-based applications that should be functional at all times and have modalities of API-based integration with law enforcement agencies for prompt redressal of complaints.
It permits dynamic pricing provided that the base fare shall not be less than the peak fare of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) air-conditioned buses.
In 2020 the Delhi government had set an ambitious target to register five lakh new EVs within five years and achieve 25 per cent of all newly sold vehicles being electric by 2025.
The Road Transport Ministry has revealed plans to enhance vehicle and passenger safety in India through the introduction of new mandates. The proposal includes mandatory bus body certification and the installation of ‘indirect vision’ devices in buses. The Bus Body Code will require certification from government-recognized testing agencies. The ‘indirect vision’ devices, similar to Blind Spot Detection systems, will improve driver visibility and maneuvering.
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The northeastern city of Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh will now be connected to three other cities across India. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, the Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel, announced the introduction of three new direct flight routes from Itanagar under the UDAN 5.0 scheme, aimed at bolstering connectivity in remote and regional areas of India.
These UDAN 5.0 routes include Itanagar to Delhi, Itanagar to Jorahat, and Itanagar to Rupsi, all of which are set to become operational soon.
The UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, initiated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has been pivotal in facilitating regional connectivity across the country. Minister highlighted its tremendous impact, stating that more than 2.50 lakh UDAN flights have helped more than 1.37 crore people travel under the scheme.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of the upgraded Tezu Airport in Arunachal Pradesh yesterday. Tezu Airport, a domestic facility with a single runway, spans 212 acres and is capable of handling ATR 72 type aircraft. The development work, undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at the request of the State Government, involved an investment of INR 170 crore.
This includes runway extension, construction of a new apron for two ATR 72 type aircraft, a new terminal building, and a fire station cum Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower.
The month of August 2023 alone witnessed a monthly growth rate of 23.13 per cent, with passenger numbers soaring to 148.27 lakhs. This surge in August passenger traffic also demonstrated the industry’s ongoing recovery and increasing confidence among travellers. Besides the growth in passenger traffic, the overall cancellation rate for scheduled domestic flights in August 2023 stood incredibly low at 0.65 per cent.
Scindia emphasised the government’s commitment to the overall development of the northeastern region, branding it as the ‘HIRA’ (Diamond) of India. This encompassed the four core components of development – Highway, Internet, Railway, and Aviation. He further noted the rapid progress in the civil aviation sector in Arunachal Pradesh. “In just nine years, the region has seen the development and operationalisation of four new airports, with the New Terminal Building at Tezu expected to further enhance connectivity and contribute significantly to the region’s economic growth.”
Tezu Airport, operationalised in 2018 under the RCS UDAN scheme, currently offers regular scheduled flights connecting it to Dibrugarh, Imphal, and Guwahati through Alliance Air and Flybig Airline.
The newly developed infrastructure at Tezu Airport is expected to bring about several key benefits, including increased airport capacity to handle higher traffic volumes, improved connectivity for the northeastern region, a boost to tourism, trade, and employment opportunities, and a broader promotion of infrastructure development and economic growth in the area.
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