Stating that the growth in tourism has aided in the economic growth and generating employment, Madhya Pradesh Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Surendra Patwa on Wednesday said that the turnover of the Tourism department has grown but he also admitted the profit component was not as satisfactory.
While talking to reporters here presenting the annual report card of his departments, Patwa said turnover of the Tourism department has grown over the past years. Madhya Pradesh continues to be on the sixth place in the country in tourism. However, the profit component is less satisfactory and steps are being taken to improve it.He said that 6.34 crore tourists including 2.80 lakh foreigners visited the State in 2013 thereby registering a growth of 18.50 per cent as compared to the 2012-13 fiscal.
The Department is planning to observe ‘Tourism Year’ from January 2015 to May 2016. Besides, ‘Jheel Mahotsav’ would be organised in nine districts fromFebruary 13-22, 2015.More rooms are being added in two hotels of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation near Ujjain in view of Simhastha Kumbha Mela in 2016. District tourism conservation boards have been formed in 40 districts.
The proposed five-star hotel and an international convention centre would be constructed near the Minto Hall (the old Assembly building), he said. “We are also working on a plan to conserve and promoteTajmahal (a heritage site) in Bhopal and have received a plan to develop it as a 100-room hotel. We are also conserving Minto Hall (old Assembly building) and consulting experts from IIT-Chennai,” the minister said.
Referring to the Global Investors Summit-2014, he said that ‘intention to invest’ proposals worth Rs 6,000 crore were approved during the meet while during the 2012 summit, 11 MoUs worth Rs 1,437 crore had been inked.The state also bagged best state award, best civic management award for Pachmari and best tourism film award from the Union Government, he pointed out.