Chief Minister Shri Sai chairs a high-level review meeting of the Tourism Department
State Government to Make Tourism a Strong Foundation for Local Economic Growth, Employment and Regional Development
Rs. 500 Crore Mission Fund Proposed for Tourism Development; Action Plan to Mobilise Over Rs. 1,000 Crore from Various Sources
World-Class Facilities to Be Developed at Major Tourist Destinations, Including Chitrakote, Mainpat, Sirpur, Rajim and Hasdeo Bango
Target to Develop 1,000 New Tourism Entrepreneurs and Involve 250 Women Self-Help Groups in Tourism Activities
Plan to Double Tourist Footfall, Develop 12,000 Additional Rooms and Encourage Private Investment
Four Major and 15 Mini Tourism Circuits to Be Developed; Digital Technology to Make Travel Easier and More Convenient
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai chaired a high-level review meeting of the Tourism Department at Mahanadi Bhawan on Tuesday. During the meeting, he stated that Chhattisgarh has immense tourism potential. Its natural beauty, rich tribal culture, historical and archaeological heritage, and centres of religious faith give the state a distinct identity. By promoting these attractions on the national and international tourism map, the state government aims to make tourism a strong foundation for the local economy, employment generation and regional development.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that tourism development should not be limited to the beautification of destinations or the construction of infrastructure. Its benefits must directly reach local communities. Employment and self-employment opportunities should be created for young people, women, artisans, artists and small business owners living around tourist destinations. Local cuisine, handicrafts, folk art and culture should be integrated into the tourism economy to develop sustainable sources of income.
The Chief Minister said that ‘Prosperity Through Tourism’ would be the guiding principle of the mission. The government aims to develop a tourism model that connects visitors with Chhattisgarh’s natural beauty and culture while ensuring that local communities receive the maximum benefits from tourism-related economic activities.
Rs. 500 Crore Mission Fund Proposed
During the meeting, the Tourism Department Secretary presented a detailed action plan for the Mukhyamantri Paryatan Vikas Mission. Under the mission prepared by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, a core mission fund of Rs. 500 crore has been proposed for tourism development.
In addition, an action plan has been prepared to mobilise more than Rs. 1,000 crore through public-private partnerships (PPP), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), various Central Government schemes and departmental convergence.
The Chief Minister directed officials to make effective use of available financial resources for tourism projects and establish better coordination among departments. He said that priority should be given to the long-term utility, economic potential and impact on local employment while planning tourism projects.
Major Tourist Destinations, Including Chitrakote, Mainpat and Sirpur, to Be Developed
Under the Mukhyamantri Paryatan Vikas Mission, major tourist destinations across Chhattisgarh will be equipped with modern facilities. In the first phase, Chitrakote Waterfall, Mainpat, Sirpur, Hasdeo Bango Reservoir and Rajim are proposed to be developed as high-impact tourism destinations. An action plan has also been proposed to expand facilities at other important tourist destinations, including Mayali-Bagicha, Champaran, Satrenga, Tirathgarh, Devrani-Jethani, Kabir Chabutra, Kendai, Mahamaya and Chilphi Valley.
Priority will be given to developing essential facilities such as improved road connectivity, clean drinking water, modern toilets, organised parking, tourist assistance centres, digital information systems, first aid and security. Special attention will also be given to preserving local architecture, culture and the natural environment while developing these destinations in accordance with their unique characteristics.
New Employment and Self-Employment Opportunities for Local Youth
Chief Minister Shri Sai directed officials to ensure the active participation of local communities in tourism development. The mission aims to develop 1,000 new tourism entrepreneurs and involve 250 women self-help groups in tourism-based economic activities. In addition, targets have been set to train 600 hospitality and tourist assistance personnel and 500 tour guides and frontline workers.
Homestays, local cuisine, traditional handicrafts, folk art, tourism guidance, transportation and other services will be promoted in rural and tribal areas. This will help ensure that a substantial share of tourism revenue reaches the local economy and that young people find employment and entrepreneurship opportunities within their own regions.
Target to Double Tourist Footfall
The Mukhyamantri Paryatan Vikas Mission aims to double the number of tourists visiting major destinations across the state. Efforts will also be made to increase the average duration of tourists’ stays to two days.
An action plan has been prepared to develop 12,000 additional rooms across Chhattisgarh to provide sufficient and quality accommodation for visitors. Private investment in hotels, resorts, homestays and other accommodation facilities will be encouraged to achieve this objective. The mission proposes developing 10 to 20 public-private partnership projects, with a target of attracting at least Rs. 1,000 crore in private capital. This will support the expansion of hotels, resorts, transportation, food services and other tourism-related activities while strengthening local markets and the rural economy.
Four Major and 15 Mini Tourism Circuits to Be Developed
The mission proposes developing four major tourism circuits and 15 mini tourism circuits by connecting different tourist destinations across the state. The objective is to provide visitors with better and more diverse tourism experiences. Approximately 15 to 20 wayside facilities and around 500 tourist signboards will be installed along major tourism routes. These facilities will help tourists reach destinations more easily and plan their journeys conveniently.
The Chief Minister said that natural, religious, historical, archaeological and tribal tourism destinations should be connected while developing tourism circuits. This will enable visitors to experience the diversity of Chhattisgarh more comprehensively in a single trip.
Digital Technology to Make Travel Easier for Tourists
The mission also includes extensive provisions to integrate tourism services with modern technology. Plans have been prepared to develop a multilingual tourism website, mobile application, artificial intelligence-based tourism information services, digital booking, online payment and real-time navigation facilities.
Through these digital platforms, efforts will be made to provide tourists with information about destinations, accommodation, transportation, local attractions, food and other essential services on a single platform.
Tribal Culture and Heritage to Strengthen Chhattisgarh’s Distinct Tourism Identity
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that Chhattisgarh’s tribal culture, folk art, folk dances, traditional cuisine, handicrafts and way of life represent the state’s invaluable heritage. These traditions should receive wider recognition through tourism development while preserving their originality and dignity. Special emphasis was placed on promoting the natural beauty and distinctive tribal culture of the Bastar and Surguja regions to visitors across India and the world. Essential facilities will also be expanded at places of religious, historical and archaeological importance to provide better experiences for devotees and tourists.
The Chief Minister directed officials to give special attention to environmental conservation and the principles of sustainable tourism while developing tourist destinations. Development activities at natural tourist destinations should be undertaken in accordance with the local environment and biodiversity.
‘Prosperity Through Tourism’ to Be the Foundation of the Mission
The Mukhyamantri Paryatan Vikas Mission’s guiding principle is defined as ‘Prosperity Through Tourism’. Through the mission, tourism development will extend beyond improving tourist attractions and will be linked to the local economy, cultural preservation, employment generation, investment and regional development. For effective implementation and regular monitoring, provisions have been made for a high-level Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Minister and a State-Level Executive Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary.
Projects will be implemented in phases in coordination with the Tourism, Public Works, Forest, Urban Administration, Panchayat and Rural Development, Industry, Skill Development and other concerned departments.
Chief Minister Shri Sai directed officials to make the mission’s action plan result-oriented, select tourist destinations according to priority and establish clear timelines for every project. He said that the government’s objective is to develop Chhattisgarh into a tourism destination where every visitor returns with memorable experiences of the state’s natural beauty, culture and warmth, while growing tourism activities become a source of prosperity for local communities.
Tourism Minister Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Finance Minister Shri O.P. Choudhary, Chief Secretary Shri Vikas Sheel, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretaries to the Chief Minister Shri Rahul Bhagat and Shri Prabhat Malik, Commerce and Industries Department Secretary Shri Rajat Kumar, Tourism Secretary Shri P. Dayanand, Environment Department Secretary Shri Ankit Anand, Finance Department Secretary Shri Rohit Yadav, Technical Education and Skill Development Department Secretary Shri S. Bharathidasan, PCCF Shri Arun Pandey, Urban Administration Department Secretary Shri Sonmoni Borah, Water Resources Department Secretary Shri Rajesh Toppo, Managing Director of the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board Shri Soumil Ranjan Chaubey, and senior officials of the concerned departments attended the meeting.