Swadesh Darshan 2
Source: Hindu
GS II: Policies and Developmental Studies

What is discussed under Swadesh Darshan 2?

1. 1. Key Highlights of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)
   2. Vocal for Local

Why in News?

• The government plans to launch Swadesh Darshan 2 with selected locations from 15 states.
  • The initiative, which intends to give financial help to build tourism infrastructure, has picked 15 states with two or three sites each.

Key Highlights of SD2.0

• The plan was recently renamed Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) in order to build sustainable and responsible destinations with a tourism and destination-centric strategy.

  

• The programme is part of the first phase of the ‘SD2.0’ project, which will begin in January.
• The first phase includes Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, among others.
• Each state has been assigned two destinations.
• Following talks with state tourism departments, the locations were narrowed down.
• The SD2.0 initiative is entirely supported by the government.

Vocal for Local

• The plan has been redesigned with the tagline ‘vocal for local’, where the scheme is primarily focused on domestic tourists.
• Domestic tourist visits in 2021 were 677 million, and 572 million in 2022.
• The Centre introduced the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2014-15 for the integrated development of theme-based tourism circuits.
• The initiative provides financial help to state governments, union territory administrations, or central agencies for the development of tourism infrastructure throughout the country.
• The scheme was designed to work in combination with other government initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, and Make in India.
  • Goal: Positioning tourism as a major engine for job creation and economic growth, as well as building synergy with other sectors to help tourism realise its full potential.
• The Buddhist Tourist Circle, the Ambedkar Tourist Circle, and the North-East Tourist Circle were among the notable circuits created as part of this initiative.
• Part 1 of Swadesh Darshan received some criticism, mostly for spreading resources thin owing to the various places covered and too many parties engaged.

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