Package tours to promote toursim in MP

Jabalpur, Apr 13 (UNI) In order to develop Jabalpur as a tourist hub, package tours will be started for nearby Bandhavgarh, Pachmarhi, Kanha National Park, Amarkantak and Pench Tiger Reserve with the cantonment town as centre point.

A decision to ensure wide publicity for Jabalpur and nearby tourist spots in a bid to attract tourists was taken at a meeting held at Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Ishwardas Rohani's residence here yesterday.

The meeting also discussed the issue related to beautification of Bheraghat, Dumna Nature Reserve and Madan Mahal hills.

Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) Managing Director Ashwin Lohani was specially invited in the meeting, which was called at the Speaker's initiative.

Mayor Sushila Singh, Jabalpur Development Authority Chairman Vishal Pachauri, Agriculture Produce Mandi Chairman Sushil Tiwari, MLA Sharad Jain and Collector Sanjay Dubey were among others present in the meeting.

Mr Rohani described Jabalpur as suitable for being developed as a tourist hub, as the cantonment town and nearby places were replete with natural beauty.

He said the state government had made several efforts in the past three-and-half years to develop the cantonment town -- hitherto ignored due to political and other reasons -- from tourism point of view.

Mr Rohani provided several suggestions for developing Jabalpur as the main centre for tourism.

He said it was the responsibility of the MPSTDC to start package tours.

He stressed on the need for developing basic infrastructure besides connecting Jabalpur to Mumbai by air in order to promote tourism.

Mr Rohani added that the Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister, the state Tourism Minister and he had discussed the matter with airline companies in this regard.

UNI