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Madhya Pradesh
News
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Marketing Madhya Pradesh tourism is a challenge - Jyotiraditya Scindia
March 09, 2008 | Gwalior: Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, MP and scion of the
erstwhile royal family of Gwalior, says Madhya Pradesh has much to
offer tourists but it is "not marketed well enough". And he now wants
to take tourism in the state to new heights and in turn create jobs
for thousands.
"Madhya Pradesh is like a bouquet with the highest offering as far as
tourism goes. The only challenge is that it's not marketed well
enough," Scindia, sitting in his office adjoining the Moti Mahal
palace here, told IANS.
"What we are looking at therefore is to boost tourism in the entire
Madhya Pradesh by developing a circuit of three important historical
places - Gwalior, Shivpuri and Chanderi and in the process offer job
opportunities to thousands of people," he said.
A large portrait of his father, late Madhavrao Scindia, hangs behind
him and an autographed photograph of Sir Don Bradman decorates the
otherwise simple office.
Dressed in a light blue striped kurta, Scindia, who has studied at the
well-known Doon School and spent eight years abroad, speaks impeccable
English but he admitted that he's far more comfortable speaking in
Hindi.
He said that his latest initiative, the Gwalior Heritage Festival that
culminated Sunday, is a step towards this direction.
"The Gwalior Heritage Festival showcases the musical legacy of the
city. We plan to make this an annual affair. Besides this, we are also
working towards making the city an ideal tourist destination by
improving accessibility, by road and air, and developing a circuit
around the city so that if a tourist goes on a heritage walk around
it, he will see all the key historical places.
"I have seen that abroad, the simplest of the simple architecture is
hyped so much but here, the most beautiful and fascinating
architecture goes unnoticed because no one knows about it. Through
these initiatives I want to make Gwalior the gateway to Madhya
Pradesh," said 36-year-old Scindia.
He said that the tourism ministry had sanctioned Rs.85 million to
develop the Shivpuri-Gwalior-Chanderi circuit.
"Rs.3.5 crore (Rs.35 million) was sanctioned for Gwalior, less than a
crore for the Shivpuri Chhatri complex and the rest of the Rs.8.5
crore (Rs.85 million) for Chanderi where a crafts centre will be
developed. The entire project was sanctioned by Renuka Chowdhury in
the end of 2005, when she was tourism minister.
"The development and restoration work in Gwalior is nearly complete
and with that the country's first computerised lighting system has
been installed at the Moti Mahal palace," he said.
But he admitted that the entire process of making Madhya Pradesh an
ideal tourist destination would take a minimum of 15-20 years.
"Rajasthan's incredible tourism scene was not created in a single day.
This
is a
process that requires continuous investment, attention and
involvement.
It will
take us a minimum 15-20 years to realise our dream," Scindia said.
"Also, just restoring the historical places is not enough if they are
not utilised with human resources. We aim to organise various cultural
festivals in these places so as to keep them alive," he added.
The young MP said that his ultimate dream was to be like his father.
"I just hope I can occupy that special place in people's hearts as my
father did. This is the reason I also joined politics," he smiled. (IANS)
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