The Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) has got its tour guides trained from the prestigious Indian Institute of Tourism Management (IITM) in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, officials informed.
Notably,CTB in November last year had announced that it will get conducted a month-long ‘Guide Training’ programme after selection of 100 youths from selected districts of the State, officials informed.
A total of 10 tourism guides will be trained from Bastar district, 5 each from Raipur, Baloda Bazar, Mahasamund, Gariaband, Dhamtari, Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur, Surguja and Jashpur besides 3 each from Durg, Balod, Kondagaon, Kabirdham, Narayanpur , Kanker, Dantewada, Bijapur, Mungeli, Janjgi-Champa, Korba, Balrampur, Surajpur, Raigarh and Bemetara districts.
The Chhattisgarh Government had been making strenuous efforts to improve the quality of infrastructure and provide basic amenities in the tourism circuits, officials informed.
Notably, the Union Tourism Ministry had also allocated Rs 99.94 crore to develop Tribal Tourism Circuit to highlight tribal culture to the domestic and foreign tourists in the year 2015-16.
The districts to be developed are- Jashpur, Kunkuri, Maipaat, Ambikapur, Maheshpur, Ratanpur Kurdur, Sarodha Dadar, Gangrel, Kondagaon, Nathiyanwagaon, Jagdalpur, Chitrakoot and Thirthgad. The Tribal Theme is being implemented in these districts and the project will be completed in a phased manner.
Similarly, other tourist circuits are also being developed.
Moreover, an amount of Rs 32 lakh had been released by the Bastar District Collector to construct Tourism Information Center at Jagdalpur.
Master plans worth Rs 25 lakh had been drafted to beautify lamni Park and road-crossings. Motel had been constructed at Theerathgad and channel fencing had been built at Chitrakoot and Theerathgad. Temporary tents had been constructed at Sirpur in Mahasamund district for the convenience of Kanwar passengers. About Rs 30.50 lakh had been sanctioned for a community hall at Sirpur.
Notably, Chhattisgarh exchanged MoUs worth Rs 12 crores for development of world-class tourist facilities during ‘Incredible India Tourism Investors’ Summit (IITIS)- 2016’ organized by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry and the Tourism Finance Corporation of India from September 21 to 23, 2016 in New Delhi to promote investments in Tourism sector in India.
Several key announcements were made at the valedictory session of the Summit.
The states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh exchanged 86 MoUs during the session and many more are in the pipeline, aggregating close to Rs 15,000 crores, officials informed.
At the summit, Gujarat exchanged MoUs close to 9000 crores, Karnataka with 2600 crores, Rajasthan with 1000 crores ,Uttarakhand with Rs 500 crores and Chhattisgarh with 12 crores. Also, B. R. Shetty Group is keen to invest Rs 450 crores and Costa Cruise Rs 750 crores and Triveni Singapore close to Rs 800 crores in the country.
The task also involves development and implementation of technology framework for Home stays operations and also strategy, planning and for better Home stay service delivery.
Notably, CTB had earlier also has decided to offer special concessions to the travel agents and tour operators for further boosting tourist traffic in the State.
Officials stated the Board will now charge an amount of Rs 1000 for three year registration from these agents in order to provide services to the tourists.
Earlier, one year registration and validity charge amounting to Rs 1000 was fixed for travel agents by the Board.
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 CTB.
Notably, under the Central Government's new scheme "Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat", Chhattisgarh has been paired with Gujarat, officials informed.
Under this scheme, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat will have exchange of art-culture, education, literature, and traditions.
Under the scheme, various programmes will be organized in year 2017 from January to December under the joint aegis of both the states.
In the meeting, representatives of departments concerned were informed about the events to be organized by them and were accordingly allotted responsibilities.
CTB will also be developing an Eco-ethnic destination at Sarodha Dadar in Kabirdham district, officials informed.
Notably, CTB opened its Saroda Dadar Resort for the tourists in January this year.
Two gates -Mukki and Sarhi- of the Kanha National Part are located at a distance of 50 kilometers from the resort. Baiga tribals reside near this resort.
The 12 -room resort is ideal for the pilgrims visiting Boramdev temple and Boramdev sanctuary, officials stated.
It may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh government is also creating an ‘eco-ethnic’ tourist destination near the world famous Chitrakot water falls in Bastar region of the State, official sources informed.
Chhattisgarh is among only two other states which had sent a proposal last year to the Union Ministry of Tourism for its theme-based ‘Swadesh Darshan’ scheme for development of eco-tourism infrastructure in the State.
The proposal by Chhattisgarh is for ‘Integrated Development of Eco Tourism’ circuit in Rajmergarh–Kabir Chabutra-Achanakmar Tiger Reserve- Kurdar-Sirpur-Kodar Dam-Gangrel Dam-Kanger Valley National Park, officials informed.
The Telangana State had sent proposal for ‘ Integrated Development of Eco Tourism circuit’ in Mahaboobnagar District and Kerala has sent proposal for ‘Integrated Development of Eco Tourism’ circuit in Gavi – Pathanamthitta
Promotion, development of tourism and its infrastructure including promotion of eco-tourism/heritage tourism is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, officials stated.
The Union Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for projects that are complete as per existing scheme guidelines and are sanctioned subject to availability of scheme/funds and utilization of funds released earlier.
Notably, in 2014-15, the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) had drawn up ambitious plans to develop India’s biggest 'Eco-tourism hub' in the State, an official press release issued had stated.
The press release had stated that CTB had already received a Rs 113.5 crores project prioritization go ahead from the Union Ministry of Tourism to take its plans forward.
The CTB, under the aegis of the Chhattisgarh Government had created a blue-print of future tourism plans that will help establish Chhattisgarh as India’s biggest 'Eco-Tourism hub, it had stated.'
Based on the fact that Chhattisgarh is blessed with 80% bio-diversity and a melange of natural abundance tops in natural tourism where three national parks, 11 wildlife sanctuaries, more than 30 significant waterfalls, abundant caves and untouched natural topography , the CTB seeks to promote tourism in the State at an international level through its ambitious future plans, it stated.