#CongregationsIndia: Chhattisgarh CM Baghel Invites Event Managers to Shape New Events in the State

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Industry Watch | December 28, 2020 | News

Ujjwal K Chowdhury Adamas University, Kolkata Bhupesh Baghel Chhattisgarh

Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, brought the spotlight on several initiatives undertaken by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) in the last two years to boost tourism in the culturally vibrant State, while speaking at the virtual ‘CONGREGATIONS INDIA: Government, Political, Sport & Religious Events Summit’ organised by EVENTFAQs Media on December 24, 2020.CM Baghelwas in conversation with session moderator Ujjwal K Chowdhury, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Adamas University, in the course of which he shared insights on how Chhattisgarh is leveraging events and the State’s rich cultural heritage to grow Tourism and invited event managers to organise large scale events in the State.

Chhattisgarh’s cultural heritage
This December, Baghel completed two years in office as Chief Minister and shared milestones in his journey so far. He said how Tourism has grown in the State since 2018 when he took over as CM. “Chhattisgarh has curated many prominent festivals around the State’s rich cultural heritage, such as the Bastar Dussehra, BastarLokotsav, etc., and I view the role of these events as definitely enhancing the tourist experience and helping them get a true taste of local culture,” he said,

With regard to the session theme of ‘From Scripting Political Success to Promoting Mass Domestic Tourism – Strategic Roadmaps of Chhattisgarh’, Baghel outlined plans to grow Tourism, based on the State's heritage and tribal culture. “The Chhattisgarh Government has taken meticulous steps to preserve the State’s tribal culture and traditions celebrated from ancient times. The Tribal Fest Show, or the National Tribal Dance Festival, is a great endeavour in this regard,” he said.

Chhattisgarh’s growing Tourism
With 45% forests and 32% tribal population, Chhattisgarh is uniquely poised to create experiences across eco-ethno, adventure and cultural tourism, said Baghel. “We will have to promote Chhattisgarh as an adventure tourist attraction as many people are not aware about its natural beauty,” he added.

The upcoming Champaran Mela holds great significance for people in Chhattisgarh, and talking about it, Baghel said, “The Chhattisgarh Tourism Board is working to make Champaran mela bigger.”

Chhattisgarh has been using the ‘Full of Surprises’ proposition to promote Tourism for many years now, and Baghel explained how it has worked for the State. “Chhattisgarh initially was associated with Naxals and people had a particular image regarding the State. They would hesitate to visit it. In the last two years, we have worked on helping farmers, tribals and ex-Naxals to improve their condition. With the current relaxation in the COVID situation, we hope 2021 will be a better year in terms of Tourism in Chhattisgarh,” he added.

Inviting the events industry
CM Baghel answered a question on how large scale congregations and in-person people connects are the life-blood of politics and how live events have been forced to go digital, agreeing with the prediction that future events will be a mix of online and offline. Talking about large scale congregations in Chhattisgarh, he said, “We have eco-tourism, cultural tourism and adventure tourism, which are unexplored destinations for people in India as well as overseas. I invite event managers to Chhattisgarh to organise events and we promise to provide support in all forms. Large scale events will help us grow State Tourism.”