As Madhya Pradesh opens for Domestic Tourism, Sonia Meena, IAS, Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board says, “The first segment of travellers we are looking to attract are people from within and neighbouring states coming to visit our tourist destinations. Madhya Pradesh is surrounded by 5 states and it is very easy to travel by car from neighbouring states to our State .”
Madhya Pradesh has announced the re-opening of its State Tourism Development Corporation Hotels, Resorts and many private Hotels at tourist destinations for tourists and hoteliers, for promoting Domestic Tourism and allowing in tourists from within the country. The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has also issued a circular regarding re-opening of National Parks from 15th June 2020. The National Park’s Buffer Zone will remain open during monsoon season.
Said Sonia Meena, IAS, Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board said: “Madhya Pradesh is very strong with its domestic tourism products, and wildlife is one of them. The opening up of tourist attractions would also give a sense of “returning to normalcy”. We see great potential as we re-open our destinations like wildlife, heritage, pilgrimage, leisure, and adventure tourism opportunities”.
Following the Health protection, safety and hygiene guidelines Madhya Pradesh has sanitized and fumigated its premises. The State is ensuring all hygiene and social-distancing norms and SOP issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India.
She went on to say, “The first segment of travellers we are looking to attract are people from within and neighbouring states coming to visit our tourist destinations. Madhya Pradesh is surrounded by 5 states and it is very easy to travel by car from neighbouring states to our State. We also have a very good road network which connects major tourist destinations in the state. To begin with, people will start taking small / weekend tours with 3 / 4 Days itinerary and for them, our state could be the choicest tourism destination having several interesting tourism attractions.”
Madhya Pradesh offers an assortment of attractions to everyone who loves to travel. It is the state with the forest area cover of approx. 77,700 sq.kms (Approx 1⁄4 of the total land area) filled with Sal Trees & Bamboos. It has numerous wildlife hotspots with 11 National parks & 24 Wildlife sanctuaries such as Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary and Chambal Ghadiyal Sanctuary. The UNESCO World Heritage sites at Khajuraho, Bhimbetka & Sanchi are the iconic sites in the state. Madhya Pradesh has re-gained the tag of being “The Tiger State of the Country” by having maximum Tiger count (526) in the state. The roar of Tigers has increased in the dense and beautiful forests of Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh is not only home to two Jyotirlingas Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar. Burhanpur, Bhopal, Gwalior and Mandu are some of the beautiful architectural sites, whereas lndrasagar, Gandhi Sagar, Tawa and Bargi are the spellbinding water bodies. Cultural events like Khajuraho Dance Festival, Mandu Festival, Orchha Cultural Festival, Tansen Festival are some of the annual tourism promotional festivals to attract tourists from all walks of life.