- Tourism to invest in mechanized cleaning solutions and services
- Exclusive vendor meet with Tourism Department at Clean India Show 2015 in Indore
The Clean India Show in Indore, as the title denotes, will have a great impact on everyone. We will inform all the concerned in the Tourism department to visit the Show and take advantage of the solutions,” says Ashwani Lohani, Managing Director and Commissioner of Tourism, MP Tourism in an exclusive interview with Clean India Journal.
The Madhya Pradesh Tourism is all geared up to make the State the finest destination for both the domestic and international visitors in this ‘Year of Tourism’. “We want to run the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Corporation as comparable as or even better than a private sector corporate house,” says Ashwini Lohani.
“Madhya Pradesh is comfortably accessible and has excellent climatic conditions with fabulous landscapes. At Madhya Pradesh one can experience the essence of India in its heart. Once in MP, there would not be a need to visit any other place, as one can get tourism in its entirety, be it spiritual tourism, medical tourism, wild life, heritage, hill stations…”
Madhya Pradesh… the land of Khajuraho, Sanchi and Bhimbetka, all World Heritage sites. While Bhimbetka’s rock- shelter cave paintings go back to the early Stone Age, Sanchi’s stupas, temples and pillars are dated between the 3rd century B.C. and the 12th century A.D. Khajuraho’s temples were built between 950 – 1050 A.D. Gwalior is known for its Fort, described by the Mughal Emperor Babur as “the pearl amongst the fortresses of Hind”. Chanderi, Datia, Dhar, Burhanpur, Vidisha and Bhojpur are some other heritage gems.
Madhya Pradesh abound with the primeval forests of Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Pench, Satpura is also the land of sanctuaries and national parks. Shivpuri is a serene heritage and wildlife resort. It is dotted with the spectacular Satpura and Vindhya mountain ranges, verdant valleys and life-giving rivers like the Narmada, Betwa, Tapti, Shipra, Chambal, Ken and Sone. Pachmarhi is easily the most pristine among the hillresorts in the country.
The vast water-bodies of Upper Lake (Bhopal), Tigra Dam (Gwalior), Bargi Dam (Jabalpur), Ban Sagar (Rewa) Tawa Dam (Hoshangabad), Indira Sagar (Khandwa), Omkareshwar Dam (Khandwa), Gandhi Sagar (Mandsaur) and Madhikheda Dam (Shivpuri) have been earmarked for developing water and adventure sports activities. In the field of ecotourism also, Madhya Pradesh offers unmatched opportunities for nature-trails, trekking, rock-climbing & other adventure sports.
The holy cities of Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Chitrakoot and Amarkantak attract millions of pilgrims from all over India. Ujjain is also the land of the Simhastha, the grand Kumbha Mela held once in 12 years.
The tourism scenario in Madhya Pradesh is indeed vibrant and Madhya Pradesh Tourism is committed to ensure that the tremendous potential of its tourist products are realized in full.
“Most importantly, the Government is focusing on maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in the tourist destinations, putting in place high standards of cleanliness and service parameters in the hotels under the MP tourism and keeping the public market places attractive and clean.
“We want to position the Corporation as the face of the tourism sector and be recognized as the finest hospitality corporate in the country. We want to run as a corporate. We will be extremely efficient and finest in terms of looks, efficiency, facilities services, and in terms of profitability at par with the private sector, which will be our benchmark. Profitability is an index of how efficient we are. We are already building tourist infrastructure and introducing convention centre to enhance tourism.
Pandav Caves Pachmarhi-Satpura National Park
“Besides, we are bringing in innovation. We will have road side eateries, at least 100 in this year itself. Some of the other initiative include private sector investment in hotels and resorts and starting flight services within the State like Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal and Jabalpur. We already have three, we are bringing in two more caravans. The cruises in the water bodies will be increased for which we are adding more big AC boats to the already existing five.
“We have created the world’s first rail coach restaurant in Bhopal. It is to be seen to be believed that such a thing exists in the Government sector. We are bringing in more in Indore and Jabalpur. There will be more light shows…
The Tourism department has already started work on sprucing up hotel properties to meet the three to five star ratings. “In Bhopal alone we have over 65 hotels under tourism. About 15 of the properties already have three-star classification. In the next one year, we will be the largest three star chain in the country.”
In this changing scenario, the State Tourism has great expectations from the Clean India Show for solutions to keep the tourist destinations, market places and hotels clean and well-maintained.
“The Clean India Show clearly indicates what has to be done and everyone should take advantage of the Show being organised in this State. The Show gives a message to the and people that we have to Clean India. We cannot clean India with brooms, we need mechanized cleaning solutions, not just to increase efficiency but to improve human dignity and labour. We would also like to outsource the activity of cleaning as we do not have that kind of trained staff.”
Clean India Journal is organizing a special meet of the Cleaning Industry along with the State Tourism officials to discuss the best solutions to maintain the tourist places of Central India.
