NEW DELHI, 30 April 2018: India’s Ministry of Tourism confirms it is pressing ahead with its ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme to support maintenance of tourism amenities at heritage sites and monuments.
In a response to media reports the ministry said the scheme was limited to non-core areas of monument sites and there was no handover of monuments land or assets to the private sector.
Responding to criticism in the media, the Ministry of Tourism clarified that the “Adopt a Heritage” sites scheme involved collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India and state governments.
“The project aims to develop synergy among all partners to effectively promote “responsible tourism,’ the ministry statement explained.
It aims to involve public sector companies, private sector companies and corporate citizens or individuals to take on the responsibility for making heritage and tourism more sustainable through maintenance of infrastructure and amenities at state heritage sites and other important tourist sites in India.
Private firm participation would be based on what the ministry called “Vision Bidding” where the agency with best vision for the heritage site would be given an opportunity to support the monument through its Corporate Social Responsibility activities (CSR). The bids are not financially driven. The “Vision Bid” is based on what the corporation will achieve through it CSR activities.
The ministry said there was no truth to statements that the heritage sites would be subject to advertising that would diminish their appearance turning them into commercial platforms.
Corporations supporting the projects would get limited visibility at the premises and on the Incredible India website.
“The aim is enhance the tourist experience and promotion of the heritage sites,” the ministry said.
Successful corporations would provide basic amenities such as adequate international standard toilets and clean drinking water dispensers. They would have to provide access for disabled travellers and senior citizens.
They would also provide signage and maps, lighting and surveillance CCTV system, night viewing facilities and a tourism facilitation centre that would improve the visitor experience.
Response to the project has been positive from both public and private enterprises and even from schools and law firms. So far, 31 agencies, (known locally as Monument Mitras) have been approved, to adopt 95 monuments and tourist sites.
Four MoU’s have been signed between Ministry of Tourism, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) and Government of Jammu & Kashmir for Mt. Stok Kangri, Ladakh, J & K and Ministry of Tourism. Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) and Uttarakhand Government are working together on the trail to Gaumukh in Uttarakhand, while the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Survey of India and Dalmia Bharat Limited are involved in two projects at the Red Fort, Delhi and Gandikota fort in Andhra Pradesh.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed for ‘Red Fort ‘is ‘only’ for development, operations and maintenance of tourism amenities in and around Red Fort.
It is clarified that ‘The Adopt a Heritage’ is essentially a non-revenue generating project. It is part of a responsible tourism initiative where the ‘Monument Mitra’ spends its CSR funds for upkeep and maintenance and gets in return limited visibility. Successful agencies are selected on the scope of their vision bids without financial bids being involved.
