Tourism Minister Surendra Singh Baghel has said that the villages will be developed from the point of view of tourism through NGOs. Employment opportunities will also be explored for the villagers.
Baghel gave this information at the workshop on 'Experience Sharing by Leaders of Community Home Stay in India”.
He said that the state government would first identify the villages connected to the major tourist destinations. Villages near historical and religious sites will be added to it.
Minister Baghel said that for rural tourism, good arrangements will be made by the NGO along with the villagers to stay in the village environment and provide food etc. to the tourists.
The houses in rural surroundings will be equipped with necessary facilities. Local cuisine and food will be made available to tourists.
They will also be given medical facilities. Secretary Tourism Faiz Ahmed Kidwai informed that the District Tourism Promotion Council will play an important role in developing rural tourism. Mallika Virdi (Founder Himalayan Arch), Paras Lumba (Founder Global Himalayan Expedition), Sumit Suri (Chairman Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India, MP Committee), Pooja Srivastava (Air BNB), Anwar Jaffrey (Friends of Orchha), Vidya Venkatesh (Manager, Last Wilderness Foundation), Malini Gourishankar (F5 Scapes), Savini Sonwaria (Founder Pashu Pakshi), Aastha (Booking.com), Anurag Tamhankar (Homestay Constructions) attended the workshop.
Additional Managing Director, Tourism Board Bhavna Walimbe, Director (Skill Development) Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Shri Manoj Singh and senior officers of Tourism Department were present.