Stating that COVID is a bygone thing and has no impact on the tourism sector, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary and Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, mentioned the state had the best tourist season in the last two years. "Tourism in MP has picked up with a record arrival of domestic tourists," he said.
Earlier this year, the MP government, during its annual budget session, said that the state's economy was in bounce-back mode post-COVID. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also cited the economic survey figures, saying that numbers speak of the state's sound financial performance.
A sector-wise analysis of the economic survey 2022-23 shows that the tourism sector has been one of the significant contributors to MP's economy in the post-pandemic phase. Data suggests a 122 per cent increase in tourism at religious places and a 58 per cent increase in other tourist places compared to the previous financial year. However, when it comes to inbound tourism, the progress is still slow, said Shukla.
"There are multiple factors responsible for slow growth in inbound tourism. Economic developments worldwide play a major part. The international scenario is complex, dependent on many factors, resulting in ripple effects in various domains, including tourism," said Shukla.
As the state awaits its tourist season in the coming months, eyes are on the influx of international tourists, with inbound tourism anticipated to surge. "The inbound travel industry looks at Madhya Pradesh very enthusiastically. When we visited Thailand and Malaysia, we sensed their curiosity in tourist attractions like Sanchi Stupa. Similarly, we received a great response from cities like Dubai in the Middle East," added Shukla.
In recent years, the state government has forayed into new tourism avenues, such as rural and agricultural tourism, to attract local and foreign tourists. "Our initiatives, especially rural tourism, have been catching the imagination of people abroad," said Shukla.
Many villages have developed rural homestays to offer travellers a glimpse into the rural lifestyle, which is replete with sustainability, spirituality and local culture. "Our rural tourism initiatives precisely focus on decentralising tourism with a focus on offbeat experience. We have picked up 120 villages, where over 1000 homestays are being created, to familiarise travellers with local life and experiential travel."
Among the popular gems that have gauged the state government's attention is Chanderi town, known for the famous Chanderi sarees. The MP tourism department plans to develop it into a heritage and craft hub. It has picked up a village called Pranpur, located about 5 km from Chanderi, to develop it into a textile craft village. "The idea is to acquaint visitors with the lifestyle of these villagers and what goes on behind the making of these exclusive sarees and Chanderi handicrafts," said Shukla.
Women-Friendly Travel Destinations
The MP government is also working on several initiatives to empower local women and create safer tourism destinations for female travellers. "We have selected 50 destinations in the state to make them travel-friendly for women travellers. Besides, the focus is also on training and employing local women. About 40,000 women have been trained in the area of self-defence with over 25 job roles ranging from gardening to working as gipsy drivers at the national parks in the state," mentioned Shukla.
"More than 4,000 women have been trained, and 70 per cent are already employed, he added.
Curb Carbon Footprint
With global concerns about the environmental aftermath of overtourism looming large, the state government is ensuring that tourist footfall does not affect the environment, especially at offbeat destinations.
"Tourism is essential to a country's growth, and we must ensure we travel correctly. Our job should not just be increasing tourist footfall but also to reduce carbon footprint. We must ensure to travel eco-friendly and make optimal use of resources," said Shukla.
