Nath Govt promotes tourism in a big way

Madhya Pradesh has made its mark in the country by acquiring 16 awards at the national level in the last one year in the field of tourism. During this time, the State Government gave priority to innovations to promote tourism.

Initiatives were taken to provide tourism facilities in the forest areas in a simple and easy manner.

Priority was given to conservation and promotion of tourist destinations. The focus was on speedy completion of infrastructure development works. Investors were encouraged to invest in the State through road shows organised in cities and metros of the State and abroad. This created new employment opportunities in the tourism sector and increased revenue. Comprehensive, simple and transparent tourism policies have been formulated for investors in the last one year. Decision was taken to start helicopter facility from Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur metropolitan cities for tourist destinations of the state soon.

Attractive grants and concessions were given for hot air balloon, wild life resort, mega and ultra projects in the state government’s innovative tourism policy-2019. Provision was made to give 5 percent additional cost capital grant to scheduled caste and tribal entrepreneurs and for tourism projects to be set up in remote and inaccessible areas. It was decided to establish three new Food Craft Institutes in the state. Decision was taken to promote rural tourism in selected villages near tourist sites to give the tourists a feel of rural life.

A grand celebration was organised from December 28 to January 1 in the renowned tourist site Mandu of the country. Royal Cuisine Food Festival was celebrated in Minto Hall and Jal Mahotsav in Hanuwantiya. Dishes of the Royal families of various regions were made by their cooks at the food festival. It was decided to celebrate “The Great International Yearly Musical Festival-Hriday Dishyam” in Bhopal on 11-12 January, 2020 and “Namaste Orchha” in Orchha from 6 March to 8 March in collaboration with the Tourism Board and the Department of Culture.

Decision was taken to impart training to the youth in the field of tourism through prestigious groups. A Branded Hotel Incentive Policy, Farm Stay, Gram Stay Yojana (Registration and Regulation) Yojana- 2019 was drafted. A Film Tourism Policy will also be drafted soon. Currently, about 6-7 film web series have been completed in tourist spots of the state and shooting of many is in progress.

This year, BBA course in Travels and Tourism Studies was started at the Madhya Pradesh Institute of Hospitality.

15 acknowledgment letters and licenses were issued for conducting water sports activities in the notified water areas for water tourism.

This year, 24,000 students from maximum 8,000 schools of the state participated in the tourism quiz.

Walk-Festival-2019 were organized for introducing/promoting enriched heritage, natural beauty, history, traditions, ancient heritage in 11 prominent districts/tourist sites of the State.