Archive · 9 Oct 2026
MP Urged to Expand Tourism Beyond Khajuraho and Bandhavgarh
Tourism experts met in Bhopal to discuss how more people could visit Madhya Pradesh.
They said the state should offer more than famous monuments and wildlife parks.
Visitors may enjoy staying in rural homes and learning about local ways of life.
They could also see how local products are made.
Some experts said the state needs more publicity abroad and better travel connections and facilities.
One delegate suggested telling visitors about local food before they arrive.
The experts said overseas tourists often plan trips a year or two ahead.
Because of that, new efforts may take several years to bring more visitors.
Tour operators at the seventh Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart urged the state to promote experiential tourism beyond its established monuments-and-wildlife circuit.
Delegates recommended marketing rural and tribal experiences, including homestays and demonstrations of how local products are made.
They said better international publicity, direct overseas air links, improved roads and hygiene, and welcoming residents could help attract visitors.
A representative from Poland said introducing tourists to Madhya Pradesh’s traditional cuisine before arrival could ease food concerns.
Delegates noted that international visitors plan trips far ahead, so tourism initiatives may take three or four years to show results.
- Who
- Foreign and domestic tour operators and delegates at the seventh Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart.
- What
- They called for more experiential tourism and improved promotion and visitor facilities in Madhya Pradesh.
- When
- Thursday, during the seventh Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart; no date is specified.
- Where
- Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, at the Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Centre (Minto Hall).
- Why
- To attract more foreign tourists and broaden the state's appeal beyond monuments and wildlife.
Promote broader, deeper tourism
Recognize limits of visitor numbers
Tourism beyond established attractions
Promote broader, deeper tourism
Delegates urged Madhya Pradesh to expand beyond its traditional monuments-and-wildlife circuit with rural, tribal, and other experiential tourism.
Recognize limits of visitor numbers
The article reports no direct opposition to this proposal; it notes that Ujjain's impressive visitor numbers may be misleading because many visitors are nearby residents who stay only for the day and spend little.
- Event
- Seventh Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart
- Location
- Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Centre (Minto Hall), Bhopal
- Tourism proposal
- Promote experiential tourism, including rural and tribal life, homestays, and local production
- Suggested improvements
- More international publicity, direct foreign air links, better hygiene and roads, and tourist-friendly people
- Planning horizon
- Foreign tourists may plan itineraries one or two years in advance
- Potential impact timeline
- Delegates said initiatives may take three or four years to show results