Chhattisgarh will have to still make sustained efforts to be considered among India’s top 10 tourist destinations in terms of domestic and foreign tourist arrivals.
The top ten States in terms of number of DTVs (in millions), during 2016, were Tamil Nadu (344.3), Uttar Pradesh (229.6), Madhya Pradesh (184.7), Andhra Pradesh (158.5), Karnataka (129.8), Maharashtra (115.4), West Bengal (74.5), Telangana (71.5), Gujarat (42.8) and Rajasthan (41.5), as per the latest data released by Union Ministry of Tourism.
The contribution of the top ten States/ UTs during 2016 stands at about 84.2% to the total number of Domestic Tourist Visits as against 83.62% recorded in 2015.
Notably, Union Ministry of Tourism compiles data on tourist arrivals and visits to States/ Union Territories (UTs) on the basis of details received from various sources namely Bureau of Immigration and States /UTs.
While surpassing the growth rate of 6.8% in Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) observed in January 2016 over January 2015, a significantly higher double digit growth rate of 16.5% has been witnessed correspondingly in the month of January 2017 over January 2016. A similar higher growth rate is also observed in the Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) during 2016, recording a marvelous growth rate of 15.5% over 2015.
The data for DTVs, every year, is compiled by Ministry of Tourism based on the inputs received from all States/UTs. While complete data for each calendar year from all States/ UTs is received in the Ministry of Tourism sometime around in the months of April- May of the succeeding year, Ministry of Tourism has come out at present with provisional figures for DTVs on the basis of whatever information/ data is made available thus far by the concerned States/UTs coupled with estimation undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism for the missing/ incomplete data segments. The estimation process basically entails the Methods of prevailing growth rates and proportionate contributions.
Following are the salient features of the provisional figures for DTVs to States/ UTs during the year 2016:
During 2016, the number of DTVs to the States/ UTs was 1653 million (provisional) as compared to 1432 million in 2015 registering a growth of 15.5 %.
The top ten States in terms of number of DTVs (in millions), during 2016, were Tamil Nadu (344.3), Uttar Pradesh (229.6), Madhya Pradesh (184.7), Andhra Pradesh (158.5), Karnataka (129.8), Maharashtra (115.4), West Bengal (74.5), Telangana (71.5), Gujarat (42.8) and Rajasthan (41.5).
Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have maintained the first and second rank respectively in terms of DTVs
in 2016.
Madhya Pradesh has gained several ranks to reach the third position leaving Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra at the succeeding fourth, fifth and sixth positions.
West Bengal surpassed Telangana to attain the seventh position rendering Telangana at the eighth, followed by Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Chhattisgarh failed to find a place among top 10 States with maximum domestic tourist arrivals even during 2015-16, according to the data released by the Central Government.
Notably, the Market Research Division of Union Ministry of Tourism compiles data on domestic and foreign tourist visits to States/Union Territories (UTs) received from Departments of Tourism of various State Governments and UT Administrations.
During 2015, the top ten States in terms of number of domestic tourist visits (in millions), during 2015, were Tamil Nadu (333.5), Uttar Pradesh (204.9), Andhra Pradesh (121.6), Karnataka (119.9), Maharashtra (103.4), Telangana (94.5), Madhya Pradesh (78), West Bengal (70.2), Gujarat(36.3) and Rajasthan (35.2).
The number of domestic tourist visits to the States/ UTs was 1432 million in the country as compared to 1282.8 million in 2014 registering a growth of 11.63% over 2014.
The contribution of top 10 States was about 83.62% to the total number of domestic tourist visits during 2015.
Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have maintained the first and second rank respectively in terms of Domestic Tourist Visitors in 2015. Andhra Pradesh has gained the third position leaving Karnataka and Maharashtra at the succeeding fourth and fifth positions respectively.
Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal have retained their previous rankings at sixth, seventh and eighth. Gujarat, showing significant improvement has risen to rank ninth leaving Rajasthan at the tenth and causing Jharkhand to slip out of the top 10 most visited States.
In 2015, while the top 4 States retained their previous rankings, West Bengal improved by one rank to leave Rajasthan at sixth rank. Kerala, Bihar and Karnataka retained their ranks at seventh, eighth and ninth and Goa re-entered the top 10 most visited States causing Haryana to drop out of the ranks.
Chhattisgarh figured nowhere in the annual tourist arrival data of top 10 States released by Market Research Division of the Union Ministry of Tourism for 2014-15.
The Market Research Division compiles data on domestic and foreign tourist visits to States/Union Territories (UTs) received from Departments of Tourism of various State Governments and UT Administrations.
The following are the salient features of the compilation for 2014— on Domestic Tourist Visits to States/ UTs during 2014, the number of domestic tourist visits to the States/ UTs was 1282 million as compared to 1145 million in 2013 and 1045 million
in 2012.
During 2014, the number of domestic tourist visits to States/UTs registered a growth of 11.93% over 2013 as compared to growth of 9.59% in 2013 over 2012.
The top ten States in terms of number of domestic tourist visits (in millions), during 2014, were Tamil Nadu (327.6), Uttar Pradesh (182.8), Karnataka (118.3), Maharashtra (94.1), Andhra Pradesh (93.3), Telengana (72.4), Madhya Pradesh (63.6), West Bengal (49.0) Jharkhand (33.4) and Rajasthan (33.1).
The contribution of top 10 States was about 83.28% to the total number of domestic tourist visits during 2014.
Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have maintained the first and second rank respectively in terms of DTVs in 2014, whereas Karnataka and Maharashtra have come at 3rd and 4th position, respectively due to split of the state of Andhra Pradesh (dropped down to 5th rank) and Telengana (6th rank).
Madhya Pradesh slipped to rank 7th in 2014 from rank 6th in 2013 where as West Bengal has improved to rank 8th in 2014 from rank 9th in 2013. Jharkhand has entered into top 10 States improving its rank to 9th in 2014 from 14th in 2013.
Among Foreign Tourist visits to States/ UTs, during 2014, the number of foreign tourist visits (FTVs) to the States/ UTs was 22.57 million as compared to 19.95 million in 2013 and 18.26 million in 2012.
During 2014, the number of FTVs to States/UTs registered a growth of 13.12% over 2013 as compared to a growth of 9.24% in 2013 over 2012.
The top ten States in terms of number of FTVs (in millions) during 2014 were Tamil Nadu (4.66), Maharashtra (4.39), Uttar Pradesh (2.91), Delhi (2.32), Rajasthan (1.53), West Bengal (1.38), Kerala (0.92), Bihar (0.83), Karnataka (0.56) and Haryana (0.55).
The contribution of top 10 States was about 88.8% to the total number of FTVs in the country during 2014.
The top ten States in terms of FTVs in 2014, almost remained the same as those in 2013 except Goa which was at 10th position in 2013 got replaced by Haryana.
As many as 7777 foreign tourists visited Chhattisgarh during financial year 2014-15, as per latest data released by the Central Government.
The number of foreign tourist visits were 4172 in 2012 and 3886 in 2013.
The Union Ministry of Tourism compiles the data of foreign exchange earned through foreign tourists. The Ministry does not compile the data of earnings through domestic tourists. The Foreign Exchange Earnings (provisional) through Tourism in India during 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were Rs 94,487 crore, Rs 1,07,671 crore, Rs 1,23,320 crore, and Rs 1,35,193 crore, respectively.
The Central Government has put up the anticipated timeline for completion of the Tribal Tourism Circuit in Chhattisgarh to be 2019-20.The Tribal Tourism Circuit will provide an opportunity to the tourists to witness and experience tribal culture and traditions in Chhattisgarh, officials informed.
The key components for development under the project are ‘Ethnic Tourist Village’ and ‘Ethnic Tourist Development’, Destination Development and Wayside amenities.
The project would be developed by Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB).
The Tribal Tourism Circuit comprises Jashpur-Kunkuri-Mainpat- Ambikapur-Maheshpur -Ratanpur-Kurdar-Sarodadadar Gangrel- Kondagaon –Nathyanawagaon -Jagdalpur Chitrakoot -Tirthgarh in Chhattisgarh under Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
Notably, the Central Government has approved Rs 99.94 crore based on a Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by CTB for development of the Tribal Tourism Circuit in the State under ‘Swadesh Darshan’ package.
The approval was given in a Secretary-level meeting held in New Delhi, officials stated.
The objective of forming the tourism circuit is to highlight rich and ancient tribal culture and environment of Chhattisgarh’s tribal dominated regions. In this circuit, Jashpur, Ambikapur and Sarodhadadar would be developed as ethnic tourist village and Mainpat, Kurdur, Gangrel, Kondagaon, Jagdalpur, Chitrakoot and Teerathgarh are to be developed for eco-ethnic tourism while work for sight amenities will be carried out in Kunkuri, Maheshpur and Nathiyanawagaon.
With an objective to take tourism in Chhattisgarh to the next level, the Chhattisgarh Government is also planning to take a series of initiatives for developing ‘Highway Tourism’ in the State.