Envisioning fast-paced development, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Kamal Nath, has brought sweeping policy changes across various departments, including the promising tourism sector, during his first year in office.
Sworn into office in December 2018, the vastly experienced Chief Minister has inspired tremendous optimism in the tourism sector by upgrading the Tourism Policy-2016 into the more comprehensive, easy and transparent Tourism Policy-2019.
The investor friendly policy paves the way for heightened private participation in the tourism sector by offering various schemes and incentives for those investing in the State.
The Branded Hotel Promotion Policy-2019 offers branded hotel chains an attractive subsidy package against an investment of Rs 100 crore in a Hotel, Resort, Heritage Hotel, in the State.
Similar schemes have also been launched for private participation in Wildlife Tourism, Religious & Spiritual Tourism, Adventure Tourism, Cultural Tourism besides promoting the state as a Wedding and Filming destination of choice.
Industry watchers say the new policy will help Madhya Pradesh improve its service offering to both investors and tourists and bring the State tourism apparatus closer to attaining global benchmarks for a sustainable tourism model.
Home to several world class destinations, the investor friendly initiatives, envisioned by Kamal Nath, are sure to result in a huge improvement in the service offering and map hospitality standards to match expectations of the discerning global traveller.
While on one hand the new policy is helping upgrade infrastructure by drawing on private participation, on the other it lays an equal emphasis on ensuring that the benefits of a vibrant tourism landscape, reach both domestic and international tourists.
The policy lays strong emphasis on Environment Friendly Tourism and provides for subsidies to hotels to help reduce their carbon footprint.
The move will ensure that an expansion in tourist footfalls doesn't result in damage to the often fragile ecological landscape of the destination.
Setting the tone for the future, the policy stresses on the development of new-age tourism infrastructure by taking into account lifestyle choices of the young traveler and underlines the need for an upgrade and creation of adventure tourism facilities.
The State Tourism department, headed by Tourism Minister Surendra Singh Baghel, has adopted an aggressive multipronged approach towards creating, upgrading, marketing and sustaining the tourism effort which aims at ensuring the early inclusion of Madhya Pradesh on every discerning traveller's to-do list.
In an effort to increase the penetration of tourism, the state body, under Baghel, further plans to include several last-mile destinations and develop Wayside Amenities and create a well regulated and maintained network of Farm-stay and Home-stay facilities.
Besides helping tourists travel off the beaten track, these facilities will provide tourists with a glimpse of the state's diverse culture and rich Tribal and folk traditions, and heritage, by helping them stay really close to the host community in a safe and regulated environment.
Destination weddings are the new buzz-word among the upwardly mobile, and Madhya Pradesh now offers several locations to young couples who may choose to take their vows against the magnificent backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage site at Khajuraho, the 16th century Temples on the banks of the scenic Betwa River in Orchha or enjoy the rich hospitality traditions of an era gone by in the state capital, Bhopal.
Film crews looking for an optimal mix of lifestyles and landscape which seem to span several centuries need to look no further, as the state tourism department provides all possible support to film-makers hoping to tell their stories against the backdrop of truly diverse locations without blowing up their budgets.
In its effort to provide doorstep services, the tourism department has trained a network of several travel advisors, based at 12 strategic locations--across the country--to support travellers and tourists through the decision making process
In an effort to boost international tourist footfalls, the tourism department has aggressively participated at various international travel and tourism trade events including those in the United States of America, France, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway and Singapore.
The huge impetus on tourism has resulted in acclaim and awards for Madhya Pradesh at both national and international fora.
Though all praise for the policy effort, trade experts say that a further expansion of airline facilities would provide tourism in Madhya Pradesh with just the fillip it deserves.
Speaking on the prospects of Madhya Pradesh reaching a top of the table position in terms of tourist footfalls in the near future, one of them says, "No doubt the task is daunting, but Chief Minister Kamal Nath, with his experience, is certainly the man for the job."