Inter and intra-state cruise tourism, all women rides; safety of women, wellness and rural vacations will be an integral part of the 2024 trajectory for Madhya Pradesh tourism.
The state government has decided to introduce new elements while revamping and expanding the existing schemes to add vibrancy and boost tourism in the New Year.
“We designed a multi-pronged strategy for tourism in 2023. In 2024, the plan is to make it more holistic, inclusive, sustainable, eco-friendly and adventure packed,” principal secretary of state tourism department, Sheo Shekhar Shukla said.
Cruise tourism, new trails
“We have a buoyant plan for cruise tourism in 2024. The main attraction will be the nearly 130 km inter-state cruise on river Narmada from the Statue of Oneness in Omkareshwar to the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. Floating jetties are already being put in place for this,” said Shukla, who is also the Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board.
The multi-destination cruises will be punctuated with rural experiences in between the two destinations.
Elaborating on other inter-state cruise projects lined up for 2024, Shukla said that plans were afoot to link the Rajghat Dam near Chanderi in MP to Deogarh in Uttar Pradesh. Also, long distance, intra-state cruises will be a new attraction for 2024, he added.
Among the intra-state cruises planned during the upcoming year include those from Maikal Resort in Bargi near Jabalpur to Tindini in Mandla district, Dharaji in Dewas to Sailani Tapu east of Omkareshwar, Sanjit village to the tent city of Gandhi Sagar. The Tawa-Madhai cruise will be given a facelift by adding new experiences.
Identifying and developing new trekking trails in various buffer zones of national parks and sanctuaries will form part of the 2024 tourism strategy, Shukla said. There will be promotion of the state through different biking trails and car rallies. A special attraction- The Queens on the Wheel—an all women seven-day biking event – slated for February 2024 will take the riders on an adventurous ride from Bhopal to Orchha via Chanderi, Kuno, Gwalior, Mitawali, Padavali, Bateshwar, and Khajuraho.
“We have elaborate plans to develop many new off-beat destinations thereby leveraging the USP of our state,” Shukla mentioned.
Improving connectivity, wellness vacations
In a bid to enhance connectivity between the various destinations, the tourism department is working to reintroduce small aircrafts under public private participation (PPP) mode.
“This is the best time to re-start this as the tourism sector has now bounced back after a post pandemic lull,” Shukla said.
The 2024 calendar will also have retreats for yoga and meditation. These will offer wellness vacations much beyond diet and physical nurturing.
The plan is to host 12 such retreats in the first year followed by 24 and 36 in the second and third years. The retreats would be hosted in the select hotels owned by the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation.
Offbeat destinations, rural tourism
In 2024, plans are afoot to connect at least 10 unexplored destinations with the mainstream tourism. The process for tapping the offbeat destinations had kick-started last year and in 2024 this will take a more robust shape. The thrust will be on connectivity and infrastructure development of these destinations.
“The concept of building glamping (camping with best amenities) sites with multifarious immersive experiences around these destinations had started in 2023. In 2024, besides increasing the number of tent cities we will make them more tourist-friendly.”
While the contours of rural tourism were sketched during pandemic days, this will be widened in 2024.
Saying that the number of home stays would be increased to more than 500 in 2024, Shukla added new village life experiences that are innovative and in sync with rural life will be introduced.
Shukla said that safe destinations for women will be a priority and various initiatives were underway for mass skilling of women in hospitality related job roles to increase their strength in various front line jobs. The Board has already trained more than 4,000 women and in 2024 we propose to absorb more of them in the hotel and travel industry, he added.
After battling an inclement phase due to the pandemic, tourism in MP bounced back in 2023. Introduction of new circuits, festivals and setting of tent cities at offbeat destinations, providing rural experiences were some of the hallmarks of 2023. The first editions of Kuno and Chanderi festivals got a good jumpstart while the Mandu and the Gandhi Sagar Floating Festival made novel ways to attract visitors including the sprawling ultra- luxurious tent cities built around these destinations, Shukla said.
