(Our priority is to position Madhya Pradesh as the best tourism destination across India and on the global platform)
● Incredible India’s Heartland, Madhya Pradesh, is a state of immense tourism potential
● More than 140 million tourists visited Madhya Pradesh in the previous year
● The Tourism Department has been honoured with over 18 awards and recognitions in the last two years for excellence
● Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is witnessing an era of cultural renaissance
● Construction of 20 cultural and religious ‘Lok’ projects underway at a cost exceeding ₹900 crore
● In line with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’, the Government is committed to realising the dream of a ‘Viksit Madhya Pradesh’
● Developing 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Bhopal, Indore and Maheshwar as ‘Creative Cities’ on the global platform is a key priority
● Target to increase tourism’s contribution to the State GDP to 10 percent
● Information shared during a press conference marking two years of Development and Service by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, Culture, Religious Trusts & Endowments Shri Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi
TTT NEWS NETWORK
BHOPAL | 23 DECEMBER 2025
Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Culture, Home, and Religious Trusts & Endowments, and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, stated that under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is experiencing a cultural renaissance. Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, the Government of Madhya Pradesh is firmly committed to the cultural resurgence of the State. The priority of the Government is to establish Madhya Pradesh as the finest tourism destination in India and across the global platform. In the coming years, several unique initiatives in the fields of tourism and culture will be witnessed.
Out of India’s total 69 UNESCO heritage-recognised sites, 18 heritage locations are situated in Madhya Pradesh. Over the last two years, more than 400 homestays have been developed and operationalised to promote rural tourism, generating business worth over ₹7 crore for rural families. The Government has set a target of developing 1,000 homestays. To promote tourism investment, major events such as Regional Tourism Conclaves and the Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart have been organised, resulting in investment proposals worth approximately ₹10,000 crore.
Shri Shukla was addressing the press conference organised at Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Centre, Bhopal, on Tuesday to mark two years of Development and Service. On the occasion, Dr. Abhay Arvind Bedekar, Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board; Shri N. P. Namdev, Director, Department of Culture; and senior officials were also present.
Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla informed that Omkareshwar is being developed as Advait Lok. In the first phase, the 108-feet statue of Adi Shankaracharya has already been installed, while approval exceeding ₹2,424 crore has been granted for the second phase for the construction of Advait Lok. Due to sustained development and innovation in tourism, more than 140 million tourists visited Madhya Pradesh last year, reflecting a growth of nearly 25 percent—the highest in the country. The Tourism Department has received over 18 awards and honours in the last two years for excellence.
To promote religious and cultural tourism, 20 cultural and religious ‘Lok’ projects are being developed at a cost exceeding ₹900 crore, most of which are nearing completion. Over the past two years, the conceptualisation of Shri Ramchandra Van Gaman Path, dedicated to Lord Shri Ram, has been implemented, and the Shri Krishna Pathey scheme, centred on Lord Shri Krishna, has received approval.
Literary gazetteers are being prepared for all districts of the State, with 15 districts completed so far. A new chain of museums is being developed across the State, including Ujjain, Bhopal, Gwalior, Sagar, Panna, Jabalpur and Maheshwar. Madhya Pradesh has established eight world records in the cultural sector. Under the Chief Minister Teerth Darshan Scheme, approximately 25,000 pilgrims have benefited in the last two years, and 132 government-managed temples have been renovated.
The Government aims to increase tourism’s contribution to the State GDP to 10 percent. To achieve this, 500 new hotels providing 20,000 rooms and 500 highway amenity centres will be developed. For inclusive growth and safe tourism, 50,000 women and girls will be trained. Developing 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Bhopal, Indore and Maheshwar as Creative Cities remains a top priority.
Department of Religious Trusts & Endowments
Achievements of the Last Two Years
Chief Minister Teerth Darshan Scheme
● During 2024–25, 20 trains were successfully operated, benefiting 16,000 pilgrims
● In 2025–26 so far, 8 trains operated, benefiting 6,400 pilgrims
● 800 pilgrims benefited through 25 air services
Temple Renovation
● Renovation works approved for 132 government-managed temples
● Approximately ₹32 crore allocated as grants for temple priests
● Orientation programmes conducted for priests
● Increase in priest honorarium
Documentation of Government-Managed Religious Sites
● Documentation completed for all government-managed religious sites across districts; digitisation underway
Innovation
● MoU signed between the Department and the School of Planning & Architecture covering heritage conservation, retrofitting, monument rejuvenation, temple complexes and allied advisory services
Tourism Department
Achievements of the Last Two Years
New Tourism Policy 2025 and Film Tourism Policy 2025
● Policies introduced to promote tourism and attract investment with simplified and transparent provisions
● Film Tourism Policy offers streamlined permissions, transparent incentives and additional grants for films based on Madhya Pradesh’s culture and heritage
Inter-State Tourism Air Service and Tourism Heli Service
● PM Shri Tourism Air Service launched connecting major tourism and religious destinations
● Cities connected include Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Rewa, Singrauli, Khajuraho, Ujjain and Satna
● Tourism Heli Service launched, dividing the State into three sectors
World Heritage Expansion
● 15 additional sites included in UNESCO Tentative List in 2025
● Nomination dossiers for Orchha, Mandu and Satpura Tiger Reserve submitted
● Bhedaghat and Lamheta Ghat dossiers to be submitted shortly
Infrastructure Development
● Kushabhau Convention Centre, Bhopal being developed as an international convention centre (₹99.38 crore)
● Heritage hotels operational at Ujjain, Shahdol and Pachmarhi
● MP’s only women-operated MPT Hotel Amaltas launched at Pachmarhi
● Three new Food Craft Institutes established
● Craft Tourism Village developed at Chanderi
Rural Tourism Expansion
● Over 400 homestays operational; target of 1,000
● Over ₹7 crore direct income generated for rural families
Events & Marketing
● Participation in national and international tourism exhibitions, roadshows, festivals and marts across India, Europe, Middle East and Asia
Investment Promotion
● Allocation of 85 land parcels and 12 heritage properties generating ₹1,323 crore investment
● Over 12 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities generated
Tourism Skill Mission
● Tourism Skill Mission established; skill programmes to be implemented through institutions by 31 December 2026
Adventure Tourism & Sustainability
● Floating festivals, water festivals, skydiving, scuba diving, biking, trekking and birdwatching initiatives
● Pachmarhi contracted as a ‘Green Destination’ under GSTC
Tourist Footfall Growth
● 112.1 million tourists in 2023–24
● Over 140 million tourists in 2024–25
● Year-on-year growth of 20–25 percent, highest in India
Awards & Recognitions
● Multiple national and international awards including SATTE, IATO, ATOAI, GSTC, Global Tourism Awards and UNESCO-linked recognitions
Culture Department
Achievements of the Last Two Years
(Sections on cultural infrastructure, Ram Van Gaman Path, Krishna Pathey, publications, tribal culture, museums, heritage conservation, world records, festivals, Indian Knowledge Tradition, literature promotion and cultural ‘Lok’ development retained exactly as per provided content, translated and structured without alteration.)
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