Program brief
| Form of support | Cash together with goods or services |
|---|---|
| Level | Central |
| Run by | Ministry Of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism |
| Field | Business & Entrepreneurship |
| Started | 2022 |
| How to apply | Online |
Contents of this entry
Overview
The Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme under the Overseas Promotion & Publicity (OPP) Scheme aims to support the promotion and marketing of Indian tourism in overseas markets.
The Ministry of Tourism launched the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme under the Overseas Promotion & Publicity (OPP) Scheme. The scheme aims to provide financial support to tourism service providers approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India or the respective State Government / Union Territory (UT) Administration for undertaking promotion and marketing of India in the overseas markets.
Objectives:
- To motivate stakeholders to promote tourism to the country from the overseas markets.
- To enhance the visibility of the brand Incredible India in the overseas markets.
- To augment foreign tourist arrivals to the country.
Further facts from the listing
| Scheme type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
|---|---|
| Scheme for | Individual |
| DBT (direct bank transfer) | No |
Benefits
For Tourism Service Providers
Financial support for study tours, and participation in travel shows/exhibitions/road shows in overseas markets (organized by the Ministry of Tourism) will be provided up to a maximum of Rs. 3,50,000/- per case/tour.
| Sr. No. | Particulars | Extent of Support |
| 1 | Economy class airfare for travel between India to another country and from there to a group of countries by air/rail. | 90% |
| 2 | Cost of built-up/furnished stall, electricity and water charges, participation fee, etc., at travel fair/exhibitions held overseas. | 90% |
| 3 | Lodging expenses on overseas tour | Max. 5 nights with an upper ceiling of room rate at Rs. 10,000/- per night. |
For Tourism Departments of State Governments / UT Administrations
Financial support for participation in overseas travel shows and exhibitions will be provided as follows:
| Sr. No. | Particulars | Extent of Support |
| 1. | Cost of built-up/furnished stall, electricity and water charges, participation fee, etc., at travel fair/exhibitions held overseas. |
| 2. Since, the representatives of State Govts and UTs are provided TA/DA by the States/UTs, the provisions of financial assistance towards international air fare and lodging are not applicable to them. |
For Tourism Service Providers /Tourism Departments of State Governments / UT Administrations
Financial support for online promotion of tourism destinations and products in overseas markets, including digital content creation, will cover 50% of the total cost, up to Rs. 1,00,000/- per financial year, subject to actuals.
Eligibility
- Age
- 18 to 60 years
- The tourism service providers should be travel agents, inbound tour operators, tourist transport operators, classified hotels, classified bed & breakfast units, classified home stays, classified motels, guest houses & tented accommodation units, standalone restaurants, convention centers, and online aggregators, sales tours, participation in travel fairs/exhibitions and road shows (organized by Ministry of Tourism), online promotion of tourism destinations and products, tour packages in the overseas markets, including content creation/production of digital promotional brochures/leaflets etc.
- The tourism service providers should be approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, or the concerned State / Union Territory Tourism Department.
- The approved tourism service providers should show a minimum fee of Rs. 1.00 crore – Rs. 2.00 crore in any of the preceding two years i.e. 2018-19 or 2019-20, the number of tours may be limited to a maximum of two in one financial year.
- The approved tourism service providers should show a minimum fee of Rs. 2.00 crore and above in one of the preceding two years i.e. 2018-19 or 2019-20, the number of tours may be limited to a maximum of three in one financial year.
- Tourism departments of State Governments / UT Administrations are also eligible to avail benefits under the Scheme. However, the above eligibility conditions do not apply to them.
Who cannot apply
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For Prior Approval:
For Reimbursement:
Application steps
Online
Prior Approval:
Step 01: The TSP/SG/UT shall obtain Prior Approval from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, before undertaking a tour overseas.
Step 02: The applicants download the prior approval application form Annexure-I.
Step 03: In the application form, fill in all the mandatory fields, and attach copies of all the mandatory documents (self-attest, if required).
Step 04: Submit the duly filled and signed application form at least 21 days before the tour to the Assistant Director General (Overseas Marketing) via email at mda-tourism@gov.in.
Reimbursement Claims:
After undertaking the tourism promotional activity/tour abroad for which Prior Approval had been accorded by the Ministry of Tourism the Tourism Service Provider / State Govt./ UT Administration will apply to reimbursement/claim.
Step 01: The applicants download the claim application form Annexure-II, III & IV.
Step 02: In the application form, fill in all the mandatory fields, and attach copies of all the mandatory documents (self-attest, if required).
Step 03: Submit the duly filled and signed application form within 45 days of completion of the activity to the Assistant Director General (Overseas Marketing), Ministry of Tourism via email at mda-tourism@gov.in.
NOTE: Submission of claims in physical form will not be accepted.
Questions and answers
Who can apply for the MDA Scheme?
Approved Tourism Service Providers and State Governments/UT Administrations can apply.
What types of activities are covered under the scheme?
Sales tours, participation in travel fairs/exhibitions, online promotion, and digital content production are covered.
What is the financial support available for TSPs?
Up to 90% of air fare and travel fair costs, and lodging expenses up to Rs. 10,000 per night for a maximum of 5 nights, with an overall ceiling of Rs. 3.5 lakh per tour.
How many tours can a TSP undertake in a year under the scheme?
TSPs with FEE of Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 2 crore can undertake up to 2 tours; those with FEE of Rs. 2 crore and above can undertake up to 3 tours.
What is the process for obtaining prior approval?
Submit the application and required documents at least 21 days before the tour via email to mda-tourism@gov.in.
How to claim reimbursement?
Submit the claim within 45 days of return, with required documents, via email to mda-tourism@nic.in.
Are there any specific travel conditions for availing air fare reimbursement?
Yes, travel should be on Air India for sectors directly connected by Air India; otherwise, economy class on shorter routes by other airlines is permissible.
Can financial support be claimed for the same activity from multiple sources?
No, the applicant should not have claimed/received financial assistance for the same activity from any other Government department or agency.
Is the scheme available for all TSPs?
Only TSPs approved by the Ministry of Tourism or State/UT Tourism Departments are eligible.
Can support be claimed for domestic travel?
No, the scheme is for international promotional activities only.
Are there any restrictions on who can undertake the tour from the company?
Only one person, specifically the CEO, Managing Director, Director, Managing Partner, Proprietor, or a regular employee, can undertake the tour.
Is prior approval a guarantee of financial support?
No, prior approval does not ensure financial support. Reimbursement is subject to the submission of complete claims and availability of funds.
How is the priority determined if there are more applications than available funds?
Priority is given to service providers who have not availed of financial assistance in the past under the MDA Scheme.
Official portal and guidelines
Applications are submitted only on the provider's own portal. jsrr.in does not accept forms, documents or fees.
jsrr.in is an independent index, not a funding agency or a government body. The provider's official call is final: confirm every condition, amount and date there, and do not pay anyone who offers to apply for you.
This entry reproduces the official listing and has not yet been rewritten or reviewed by our team. Read the official call before you apply.
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