Madhya Pradesh, already known for its rich tourism potential, is now focusing on rural tourism and safe tourism for women, apart from trying to get more sites on the UNESCO world heritage list to promote its varied tourism attractions.
Culture and tourism minister Usha Thakur as well as principal secretary of the department Sheo Shekhar Shukla underlined this during an expert session in Bhopal organized to mark the World Tourism Day on Monday. The theme for this year is ‘tourism for inclusive growth’.
In a virtual address, Thakur said that Madhya Pradesh is a peaceful, safe and clean state and tourists should visit it without any hitches. She also mentioned that recently village Ladpura-Khas in Orchha of Niwari district has been nominated for the best tourism village award of the United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
She said that innovations like rural tourism with focus on home-stay are being undertaken to promote tourism in state. Also special attention is given to safety and proper waste management for maintaining cleanliness.
Shukla said there is a plan to develop 100 villages in the state for rural tourism on the lines of Ladpura-Khas. Facilities and amenities suitable for safe tourism for women are being developed in about 50 tourist spots. Participation of women will be increased considerably in the service and hospitality sectors and in this direction about 20,000 women will be given training in self-defense.
Shukla also said that in keeping with the World Tourism Day theme, steps to expand tourism facilities are important so that tourists could get a lot of choice, especially for nature tourism. He said that the state has 11 national parks and 25 sanctuaries apart from a vast array of historic, heritage and religious tourism attractions.
He added that already Sanchi, Bhimbetka and Khajuraho from MP are in the list of UNESCO world heritage sites and efforts are on to bring Bhedaghat, Satpuda National Park, Orchha and Mandu to this list. Also efforts are on to put the historic heritage of Gwalior and Orchha on the international tourism map. He added that participation of youth is necessary to promote rural tourism, which is one of the focus areas of the state now.
Chief of culture of UNESCO India office, Junhi Han, who participated in the expert session said that everyone has to work together to take tourism to greater heights. She mentioned that already tourism is contributing 10.4 per cent of global GDP. UNESCO is focusing on safety and top class tourism amenities in natural spots.
Managing director of MP Tourism Board S. Vishwanathan also spoke on the occasion, while additional MD Shilpa Gupta proposed vote of thanks.
Earlier in the morning, citizens, especially youth of Bhopal participated with enthusiasm in the group yoga and zumba dance sessions organized at Boat Club and Winds and Waves restaurant on the banks of the Upper Lake. The sessions were led by Pawan Guru and Naveen Rajput respectively.
