The State Government is planning to develop tourist destinations in forests of Surguja region, officials informed.
It may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh Government is also creating an ‘eco-ethnic’ tourist destination near the world famous Chitrakot water falls in Bastar region of the State, official sources informed.
Notably, the State exchanged MoUs worth Rs 12 crore for development of world-class tourist facilities during ‘Incredible India Tourism Investors’ Summit (IITIS)-2016’ organised by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry and the Tourism Finance Corporation of India from September 21 to 23, 2016 in New Delhi to promote investments in Tourism sector in India.
Several key announcements were made at the valedictory session of the Summit.
States like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh exchanged 86 MoUs during the session and many more are in the pipeline, aggregating close to Rs 15,000 crore, officials informed.
At the summit, Gujarat exchanged MoUs close to Rs 9,000 crore, Karnataka with Rs 2,600 crore, Rajasthan with Rs 1,000 crore, Uttarakhand with Rs 500 crore and Chhattisgarh with Rs 12 crore. Also, BR Shetty Group is keen to invest 450 crore and Costa Cruise 750 crore and Triveni Singapore close to 800 crores in the country.
Chhattisgarh is among only two other States which had sent a proposal last year to the Union Ministry of Tourism for its theme-based ‘Swadesh Darshan’ scheme for development of eco-tourism infrastructure in the State.
The proposal by Chhattisgarh is for ‘Integrated Development of Eco Tourism’ circuit in Rajmergarh–Kabir Chabutra-Achanakmar Tiger Reserve- Kurdar-Sirpur-Kodar Dam-Gangrel Dam-Kanger Valley National Park, officials informed.
The Telangana State had sent proposal for ‘ Integrated Development of Eco Tourism circuit’ in Mahaboobnagar District and Kerala has sent proposal for ‘Integrated Development of Eco Tourism’ circuit in Gavi — Pathanamthitta
Promotion, development of tourism and its infrastructure including promotion of eco-tourism/heritage
tourism is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, officials stated.
The Union Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for projects that are complete as per existing scheme guidelines and are sanctioned subject to availability of scheme/funds and utilisation of funds released earlier.
Notably, in 2014-15, the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) had drawn up ambitious plans to develop India’s biggest ‘Eco-tourism hub’ in the State, an official press release had informed.
The Press release had stated that CTB had already received a Rs 113.5 crore project prioritisation go ahead from the Union Ministry of Tourism to take its plans forward.
The CTB, under the aegis of the Chhattisgarh Government had created a blue-print of future tourism plans that will help establish Chhattisgarh as India’s biggest ‘Eco-Tourism hub, it had stated.’
Based on the fact that the state is blessed with 80% bio-diversity and a melange of natural abundance tops in natural tourism where three national parks, 11 wildlife sanctuaries, more than 30 significant waterfalls, abundant caves and untouched natural topography , the CTB seeks to promote tourism in the State at an international level through its ambitious future plans, it stated.