| A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Babulal Gaur today chalked out the plan to upgrade the ailing tourism sector of the state. Tax-burdened tour operators, bad roads and poor power have crippled tourism. Tourist arrivals in Madhya Pradesh have declined by 37.57 per cent during the period 2001-04. However, this year it has increased. |
| Similar is the situation in places of religious importance. Chitrakoot attracted only 11 tourists in 2002-03 and Khajuraho 29,870 in 2003-04. |
| Although the Chief Minister has named seven tourist destinations of religious importance as holy towns (Amarkantak, Maheshwar, Omkareshwar, Chitrakoot, Orchha, Maihar, and Omkareshwar), a blanket ban on sales of non-vegetarian food, liquor, aerated water and soft drinks may attract protests from locals and small traders. |
| Maheshwar is a Muslim-majority area, while Chitrakoot may attract bootleggers from Uttar Pradesh. |
| However, a government source said, "Only specified areas will be notified under the holy city plan before November this year and small traders interests will not suffer." |
| Though the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation had asked the public works department to take up work on 25 roads connecting places of tourist importance on priority, not much progress has been registered. |
| The world heritage site of Sanchi is yet to be connected with Bhopal by a good road though the distance is 45 km. |
| "The central government has sanctioned Rs. 9.53 crore for development of tourism facilities at Amarkantak, Maheswhar and Omkareshwar and Ujjain. |
| "A total amount of Rs. 1.47 crore has been received using which the activities like lighting arrangements, railings, fixing tiles, beautification of tourism centers have been taken up. Boating and accommodation facilities are being upgraded with an investment of Rs. 1.36 lakh at Maheshawar," a government spokesperson said. |
| Further, another amount of Rs 10 crore will be invested to augment accommodation facilities at Indore and Burhanpur. The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC) is in the throes of constant change. |
| Chief Minister Babulal Gaur had replaced its brand ambassador and chairman Nitish Bharadwaj with his daughter in-law Krishna Gaur. Later, succumbing to party pressure he removed her. |
| On the lines of Hussain Sagar Lake, a project of the MPTDC to launch fully air-conditioned floating restaurants at Bhopal Lake and Bargi reservoir in Jabalpur failed to take off and the reasons are still unknown. "Files relating to a number of projects are gathering dust," said a government insider. |
| The MPTDC claims it has earned a profit of Rs 2.20 crore in 2004-05 and is expecting to touch Rs 5 crore this year with its upgraded facilities at a few hotels. Nothing has taken place in matters like direct air-connectivity to Southern India, cut in aviation turbine fuel tax and better road connectivity and above all private partnership. |
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