Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Ecotourism Society of India signed an MOU for Responsible and Sustainable Tourism

MADHYA PRADESH Tourism Board signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ecotourism Society of India (ESOI) to take its commitments to Responsible and Sustainable tourism to the next level. In accordance, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Secretary, Tourism, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board and Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation and Anjuna Dhir, Director – Programmes, Eco-Tourism Society of India (ESOI) signed the MOU.

Last year on 25th & 26th September a two-day conference on Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI) was jointly organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, The Ecotourism Society of India (ESOI) and Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board. In the conference, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board made a commitment to practice sustainable tourism and adopt the Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI). Through this MOU, it is decided that sustainable tourism and Responsible Tourism will take the forefront and achieve the commitments of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism’s action plan in this area.

Speaking on the occasion, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Secretary, Tourism, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board and Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation said “This MOU will certainly help us developing Madhya Pradesh a world-recognized Sustainable Tourism destination and in exchange assist MP Tourism to become STCI Compliant and to be known as one of the pioneer states to adopt sustainable tourism practices in its Hotels.”

The Eco-tourism Society of India (ESOI) was established in 2008 at the behest of the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) as a non-profit organization to promote environmentally responsible and sustainable practices in the tourism industry across the country. This national body was formed by a group of eminent professionals from the tourism industry, Government, Parliament and environmentalists & Conservationists.

Madhya Pradesh offers an assortment of attractions to everyone who loves to travel. It is the state with the forest area cover of 77,700 sq.kms (Approx. ¼ of the total area) filled with Sal Trees & Bamboos. It has numerous wildlife hotspots with 11 National parks & 24 Wildlife sanctuaries such as Satpura Wildlife Sanctuary and Chambal Ghadiyal Sanctuary. The UNESCO world heritage sites of Khajuraho, Bhimbetka & Sanchi are the iconic sites in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh has re-gained the tag of being “Tiger State of the Country” by having maximum tiger count (526) in the state. The roar of Tigers has increased in the dense and beautiful forests of Madhya Pradesh.