Tourism Ministry signs MoU to develop mobile audio guide app for five iconic sites

The Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism K J Alphons handed over a Memorandum of Understanding to Resbird Technologies under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ project for the development of a mobile audio guide application for five iconic sites at a function in New Delhi on December 27, 2018.

The five iconic sites are as follows:

Rajasthan - Amer Fort

Assam - Kaziranga

Goa - Colva Beach

Kerala - Kumarakom

Bihar - Mahabodhi Temple

Besides this, the Tourism Minister also handed over the Letters of Intent to seven shortlisted agencies for consideration under the project in the presence of Tourism Secretary Yogendra Tripathi.

Significance

The shortlisted agencies would become ‘Monument Mitras’ through the innovative concept of ‘Vision Bidding’, which will give them the opportunity to associate their CSR activities with a heritage site if the Vision Bid is selected.

'Adopt a Heritage' Project

The “Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan” project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the state governments and union territories.

The project aims to involve public sector companies, private sector companies and corporate citizens and individuals to take up the responsibility for making India’s heritage and tourism more sustainable through development, operation and maintenance of world-class tourist infrastructure and amenities at ASI/ State heritage sites and other important tourist sites across the country.

The project had seen an encouraging response from corporate and individuals with over 600 registrations on the project website opting for major and lesser-known heritage sites such as Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Gandikota Fort and the trek to Stok Kangri.

The Ministry has previously issued Letters of Intent (LoI) in five ceremonies to 37 shortlisted agencies for their interest in 107 sites across India.

As of date, ten Memoranda of Understanding have been executed with various Monument Mitras for the development, operation and maintenance of tourist amenities at heritage and tourist sites across India.

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