The Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) has drawn up ambitious plans to develop India’s biggest ‘Eco-tourism hub’ in the State. It has already received a Rs 113.5 crores project prioritisation go ahead from the Union Ministry of Tourism to take its plans forward.
The CTB, under the aegis of the Chhattisgarh Government has created a blue-print of future tourism plans that will help establish Chhattisgarh as India’s biggest ‘Eco-Tourism hub.’
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.
State Minister for Culture and Tourism, Ajay Chandrakar, remarked : “Chhattisgarh is a vibrant state which now looks forward towards developing Tourism as one of its richest assets. Based on quality plans and forward looking measures, our aim is to take tourism in Chhattisgarh to millions of national and international tourists while grooming the State in welcoming new tourist arrivals.’
We (CTB) have already been conferred the ‘National Tourism Award 2012-13’ for the publication of best tourism literature, which we seek to make a common achievement every year by creating more tourism oriented schemes. We aim to establish Chhattisgarh as the top tourist destination in the country, and we are confident that our forward looking measures will definitely help us achieve the same, he said.
Today, the immediate need is to prioritise schemes pertaining to the tourism development and related activities according to the Union Government’s ‘National Tourism Plan.’ A major focus of the prioritization stands in the promotion of the rich & diverse tribal culture, unexplored tourism circuits and development of local-tourism collaboration, with which major milestones like job creation in tribal sectors and improved status of living can be achieved, Chandrakar said.
Once implemented, the go-getting tourism development plans will help in developing the essential eco-tourism in the area, and will enable Chhattisgarh build up as India’s biggest eco-tourism hub, one with probably the biggest potential in South-East Asia, he said.
Santosh Misra, Managing Director, CTB said, “Our aim is to develop Chhattisgarh as India’s biggest eco-tourism hub. Thus enhanced tourism by ways of earmarked tourism plans will enable us to develop tourism in the state in a never-seen-before magnitude. With our future venture, we seek to see greater participation of the local community that will be the most focused tool to counter Naxalism.
By strengthening tourism through organised and responsible decisions, our aim is to empower the region and showcase it in a positive light to the world. Our focus will be to increase the tourist footfall from the 1.5 million in 2012 to nearly 3 million by 2015, he said.