SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS
- Scheme for Award of Scholarships to Young Artistes in different Cultural Fields.
- Scheme for Award of Fellowships to Outstanding Persons in the fields of Culture.
- Scheme of Financial Assistance for Seminars, Festivals and Exhibitions on Cultural Subjects by Not-for Profit Organizations (Cultural Functions Grant Scheme).
- Financial Assistance to Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata (A Cultural Organisation with National Presence): The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, a branch Centre of the Ramakrishna Mission, is run by a Managing Committee comprising of eminent scholars and distinguished persons from different walks of life. The Governor of West Bengal is the President of its Managing Committee.
- Scheme for Visiting Fellows in Art, Culture & Heritage.
TOURISM
- Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during 2013 were 97 million.
- The Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEES) from tourism during 2013 was US$ 18.445 billion with a growth of 4.0%.
- Substantial growth was observed in domestic tourism sector as the domestic tourist visits during the year 2013 was 1145 million, showing a growth of 9.59% over 2012.
- The government announced Tourist Visa-on-Arrival in 2010. At present, it provides Tourist Visa on Arrival facility (TVoA) to the nationals of 12 countries namely:
- Finland,
- Japan,
- Luxembourg,
- New Zealand,
- Singapore,
- Cambodia,
- Indonesia,
- Vietnam,
- Philippines,
- Laos,
- Myanmar
- South Korea.
- During the period January to December 2013, a total number of 20,294 Visa on Arrivals (VoAs) were issued as compared to 16,084 VoAs during the corresponding period of 2012 registering a growth of 26.2%.
- The number of VoAs issued under the Scheme during January to December 2013 was:
- Japan (6,448),
- New Zealand (3,968),
- Philippines (2,967),
- Indonesia (2,758),
- Singapore (2,486),
- Finland (1,030),
- Vietnam (205),
- Myanmar (148),
- Luxembourg (145),
- Cambodia (120)
- Laos (19).
- This facility was initially available at the international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. However, with effect from 15 August, 2013 this faciliéy has been extended through Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi and
- During the period January to December 2013, the highest number of VoAs were issued in:
- New Delhi airport (11,046) followed by
- Mumbai (4,206),
- Chennai (2,815),
- Kolkata (1,351),
- Bengaluru (380),
- Kochi (229),
- Hyderabad (165)
- Trivandrum (102).
- The Ministry of Tourism has constituted Committees for promotion of Golf Tourism and Wellness Tourism.
- Following Niche Products have been identified by the Ministry of Tourism for development and promotion:
- Cruise
- Adventure
- Medical
- Wellness
- Golf
- Polo
- Meetings Incentives Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE)
- Eco-tourism
- Film Tourism
- Sustainable Tourism
- Incredible India-Bed & Breakfast/Home Stay Scheme: The scheme offers foreign and domestic tourists an opportunity to stay with an Indian family and enjoy the warm hospitality and a taste of Indian culture and cuisine in a clean and affordable place.
- Medical Tourism (also called medical travel, health tourism or global healthcare) is a term used to describe the rapidly growing practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care. Services typically sought by travellers include specialized surgeries such as joint replacement (knee/ hip), cardiac surgery, dental surgery, and cosmetic surgeries.
- The Medical Tourism activity is mainly driven by the private sector.
- ‘Medical Visa’ has been introduced, which can be given for specific purpose to foreign tourists coming to India for medical treatment.
- India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) is a Public Sector Undertaking under administrative control of the Ministry of Tourism. Incorporated on 1st October 1966, ITDC played a key role in the development of tourism infrastructure in the country.
- Apart from developing the largest hotel chain in India, the ITDC offers tourism related facilities like transport, duty free shopping, entertainment, production of tourist publicity literature, consultancy etc.
- After the disinvestment of 18 hotels, ITDC consolidated its remaining activities and restructured itself to take up diversified service-oriented business activities.
- Besides, ITDC is also managing a Hotel at Bharatpur and a Tourist Complex at Kosi.
