New Delhi, September 12 : Tourism Minister Kumari Selja announced the guidelines that includes financial packages for states that intend to develop such projects.For this, the ministry will provide central assistance of up to Rs.5 crore per destination to state governments.
The ministry added that it would extend financial assistance of up to Rs.75 lakh to state governments for construction of heliports.
The guidelines specify that the projects for construction of heliports will have to conform to the technical requirements laid down by the Director General of Civil Aviation.
Already, the ministry has approved two projects in Sikkim - Mangan and Geetang Khola.
Apart from providing central financial assistance for the heliport, the government will also give aid for developing the area as a tourist hub.
For development of Mangan Tourist Axis in north Sikkim, the tourism ministry will provide Rs.3.03 crore and for Geetang Khola waterfall in West Sikkim Rs.3.02 crore will be sanctioned, officials said.As India is known for its wellness tourism, especially because of its traditional systems of medicine — ayurveda, yoga, Unani and Siddha — the ministry plans to promote this key area too.
For this, it has revised its earlier guidelines of marketing development assistance (MDA).
Under this scheme, the wellness centres accredited by states, and travel agents and tour operators will be qualified for financial assistance to participate in wellness tourism fairs abroad.
