Raipur, October 13, 2026: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai today stated that tourism development should not be limited to beautification or infrastructure development. Local people should directly benefit from it.
Addressing a high-level review meeting of the Tourism Department at the Secretariat, Chief Minister Sai stated that Chhattisgarh has immense tourism potential. The state’s natural beauty, rich tribal culture, historical and archaeological heritage, and centers of religious faith are our unique identity.
By effectively establishing these strengths on the national and international tourism map, tourism will become a strong foundation for the local economy, employment generation, and regional development, he said.
Sai stated that tourism development should not be limited to beautification or infrastructure development. Local people should directly benefit from it. Employment and self-employment opportunities should be created for youth, women, artisans, artists, and small businesses living near tourist destinations. Sustainable sources of income should be developed by linking local cuisine, handicrafts, folk art, and culture to the tourism economy.
He stated that “prosperity through tourism” will be the core spirit of this mission. “Our effort is to develop a tourism model that connects tourists with the nature and culture of Chhattisgarh, while maximizing the benefits of tourism-related economic activities reaching local communities.”
Mission Fund of Rs 500 Crore Proposed
At the meeting, the Secretary of the Tourism Department S Bharathi Dasan presented a detailed action plan for the Chief Minister’s Tourism Development Mission. Under the mission, prepared by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, a core mission fund of Rs 500 crore has been proposed for tourism development. Additionally, a plan has been developed to raise over Rs 1,000 crore through public-private partnerships (PPPs), corporate social responsibility (CSR), various central government schemes, and departmental convergence.
The Chief Minister directed effective utilization of various financial sources available for tourism projects and improved coordination between departments. He emphasized that planning tourism projects should prioritize their long-term utility, economic potential, and impact on local employment.
Major tourist destinations including Chitrakoot, Mainpat, and Sirpur will be rejuvenated.
Under the Chief Minister’s Tourism Development Mission, major tourist destinations in the state will be equipped with modern facilities. In the first phase, Chitrakoot Falls, Mainpat, Sirpur, Hasdeo Bango Reservoir, and Rajim are planned to be developed as high-impact tourist destinations.
A plan is also proposed to expand facilities at other important tourist destinations, including Mayali-Bagchi, Champaran, Satrenga, Tirathgarh, Devrani-Jethani, Kabir Chabutara, Kendai, Mahamaya, and Chilfi Valley.
Essential amenities such as improved road connectivity, clean drinking water, modern toilets, well-organized parking, tourist assistance centers, digital information systems, first aid, and security will be prioritized at these destinations. Keeping in mind the uniqueness of the tourist destinations, special attention will be paid to preserving the local architecture, culture, and natural environment in their development.
New employment and self-employment opportunities will open up for local youth.
Sai directed to ensure the active participation of the local community in tourism development. The mission aims to develop 1,000 new tourism entrepreneurs. There are also plans to connect 250 women self-help groups with tourism-based economic activities. Additionally, the goal is to train 600 hospitality and tourist support personnel and 500 tour guides and frontline workers.
Homestays, local cuisine, traditional handicrafts, folk art, tourist guidance, transportation, and other services will be promoted in rural and tribal areas. This will channel a significant portion of tourism revenue into the local economy, providing youth with employment and entrepreneurship opportunities within their own region.
Goal to double tourist numbers
Under the Chief Minister’s Tourism Development Mission, the goal is to double the number of tourists visiting major tourist destinations in the state. Efforts will also be made to increase the average tourist stay to two days.
To provide adequate and quality accommodation for tourists, a plan has been drafted to develop an additional 12,000 room capacity in the state. To achieve this, private investment will be encouraged in hotels, resorts, homestays, and other accommodation facilities.
It is proposed to develop 10 to 20 public-private partnership projects in the tourism sector, with the goal of attracting at least Rs 1,000 crore in private capital. This will expand hotels, resorts, transportation, catering, and other tourism-based services, while also strengthening local markets and the rural economy.
Four major and 15 mini tourism circuits will be developed
The mission plans to develop four major tourism circuits and 15 mini tourism circuits to provide tourists with a rich and diverse experience by connecting various tourist destinations across the state.
Approximately 15 to 20 wayside amenities and approximately 500 tourism signage will be installed along major tourist routes. This will help tourists reach the destinations and plan their travels conveniently.
The Chief Minister said that when developing tourism circuits, natural, religious, historical, archaeological, and tribal tourist destinations should be integrated in such a way that tourists can experience the diversity of Chhattisgarh in a single trip.
Digital technology will facilitate tourist journeys.
The mission also makes extensive provisions to integrate tourism services with modern technology. For the convenience of tourists, there are plans to develop facilities such as multilingual tourism websites, mobile apps, artificial intelligence-based tourism information, digital booking, online payments, and real-time navigation.
Through these digital mediums, work will be done to provide tourists with information on tourist destinations, accommodation, transportation, local attractions, food, and other essential services on a single platform.
Tribal culture and heritage will become the unique identity of Chhattisgarh tourism.
Chief Minister Sai said that Chhattisgarh’s tribal culture, folk art, folk dance, traditional cuisine, handicrafts, and lifestyle are our invaluable heritage. During tourism development, these should be given wider recognition while preserving their originality and dignity.
Emphasis was placed on promoting the natural beauty and unique tribal culture of the Bastar and Sarguja regions to the nation and the world through tourism. Additionally, necessary facilities will be expanded at sites of religious, historical, and archaeological importance to provide a better experience to pilgrims and tourists.
The Chief Minister directed that the principles of environmental protection and sustainable tourism should be given special consideration in the development of tourist destinations. Development work at natural tourist destinations should be in keeping with the environment and biodiversity.
“Prosperity through Tourism” will form the basis of the mission.
The core concept of the Chief Minister’s Tourism Development Mission is “Prosperity through Tourism.” Through the mission, tourism will not be limited to the development of tourist destinations alone; it will be integrated with the local economy, cultural preservation, employment generation, investment, and regional development.
For effective implementation and regular monitoring of the mission, a high-level advisory committee chaired by the Chief Minister and a state-level steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary have been established. Projects will be implemented in a phased manner in coordination with relevant departments, including tourism, public works, forests, urban administration, panchayat and rural development, industries, and skill development.
Sai directed officials to make the mission’s action plan result-oriented, selecting tourist destinations on a priority basis, and setting clear timelines for each project. He said that our goal is to make Chhattisgarh a tourist destination where tourists return with memorable experiences of the state’s natural beauty, culture, and intimacy, and that increasing tourism activities become a means of prosperity for the local people.
Tourism Minister Rajesh Agrawal, Finance Minister O P Choudhary, Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretaries to the Chief Minister Rahul Bhagat and Prabhat Malik, Secretary of Industry Department Rajat Kumar, Tourism Secretary P Dayanand, Secretary of Environment Department Ankit Anand, Secretary of Finance Department Rohit Yadav, Secretary of Technical Education and Skill Development Department S Bharatidasan, PCCF Arun Pandey, Secretary of Urban Administration Department Sonmani Bora, Secretary of Water Resources Department Rajesh Toppo, Managing Director of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board Saumil Ranjan Choubey and senior officers of the concerned departments were present in the meeting.
