SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir and Telangana have not figured among the five regions for which the Centre has sanctioned Rs 17.52 crore under its tribal homestay tourism initiative, according to a Rajya Sabha reply.
The Ministry of Tourism said Rs 17.52 crore had been sanctioned in 2025-26 under the Development of Homestays in Tribal Areas, a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0, with Rs 8.755 crore authorised so far.
The sanctioned projects cover Andhra Pradesh, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Uttarakhand. Ladakh has received the second-highest allocation at Rs 4.59 crore, against Rs 2.29 crore authorised.
Andhra Pradesh’s Maredumili cluster was sanctioned Rs 1.23 crore, while Madhya Pradesh’s Karanjiya and Pushparajgarh clusters and Mizoram’s Central and Southern clusters received Rs 5 crore each. Uttarakhand’s Chakrata cluster was sanctioned Rs 1.70 crore.
The Ministry said the tribal homestay initiative supports community-based tourism through homestay development, capacity building and promotion of sustainable tourism practices.
The disclosure assumes significance for Jammu and Kashmir, where several tribal communities and tourism destinations have remained part of the broader push towards rural and community-based tourism. However, the latest list of sanctioned projects does not include any project in JK.
On medical tourism, the Ministry said it is implementing a National Strategy and Roadmap for Medical and Wellness Tourism and producing thematic promotional films. Yoga, Ayurveda and wellness tourism products are also being promoted through electronic, digital and social media platforms.
For business and conference tourism, the Ministry said it formulated Model Guidelines for setting up City MICE in 2024 and circulated them to States and Union Territories for adoption with suitable modifications.
States and UTs have been asked to strengthen the MICE ecosystem and related services and collaborate with stakeholders to attract more domestic and international meetings. The Ministry has also prepared a digital MICE catalogue showcasing facilities available at major destinations.
