By IANS
New Delhi : The government is developing 531 sites for tourism in the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed Tuesday.
Minister of Tourism Ambika Soni said during the last two years the ministry has sanctioned 531 tourism projects in the country.
In 2005-06, Rs.4.579 billion was allocated, while in 2006-07 Rs.4.578 billion was given, she said.
The minister, also culture minister, said the centrally protected temples of national importance are in a fairly good state of preservation.
“They are conserved, preserved and maintained as per conservation norms subject to availability of resources,” she added.
She denied there was any proposal to levy any ticket or fee for entry to these centrally protected temples under worship.
There are 116 centrally protected temples in the country.
In another answer, the minister said the national tourism policy 2002 recognises the importance of domestic tourists, particularly those connected with pilgrimage.
“It has been so designed that the infrastructure created under it serves as a backbone of international tourism in times to come,” she added.
In 2006, there were an estimated 462 millions domestic tourists as compared to 392 million the previous year.