By IANS
Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh has for the first time bagged the national award 2007-08 for its outstanding performance in the tourism sector among all states and union territories, a state official said here Sunday.
“The state has been selected by the central government for the prestigious National Tourism Award 2007-08 for its outstanding performance in the tourism sector,” said Dhruv Narayan Singh, Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Development Corporation (MPTDC).
“The work done by the state government in the field of tourism in the recent past has been recognised by Indian Association of Tour Operators, Adventure Tour Operations Association of India and South Asian Travel Tourism Exchange, which have conferred the best tourism state award on Madhya Pradesh,” Singh told IANS.
“The selection of Madhya Pradesh for this prestigious award came as a result of several important steps taken by the state for development of tourism. This includes the revamping of the Tourism Corporation,” he added.
Every single unit of the corporation, according to Singh, is now making profit and it has established its image as one of the finest tourism corporations in the country. Now steps are underway to modernise systems and operational procedures.
The three-star classification to six MPTDC properties and ISO certification to its four properties including the headquarters are also monumental achievements, the chairman said.
“The launch of innovative projects like the rail coach restaurant, cruises and sight seeing buses too are its widely acclaimed unique achievements,” Singh said.
Similarly, tourism infrastructure at almost all tourist destinations, he said, is being improved with the assistance from the union government under its destination and circuit development schemes and an aggressive marketing and promotional campaign has been launched.
“Private sector participation in the tourism sector in the state is being invited on a planned basis by setting up land bank and a bank of heritage properties belonging to private individuals as well as the government,” he added.