The year 2025 has emerged as a landmark period for Madhya Pradesh, marking unprecedented progress in tourism, culture and investment. Guided by the national vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi for cultural resurgence, and under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, the state has witnessed a transformational phase of growth and innovation in its tourism sector.
Under the stewardship of Minister of State (Independent Charge), Tourism, Culture, Religious Trusts & Endowments Shri Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi, and with strategic direction from Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Additional Chief Secretary and Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, the year proved to be a defining chapter for tourism-led development in the state.
A major highlight of 2025 was the launch of the PM SHRI Tourism Air Service and PM SHRI Tourism Helicopter Service. These initiatives significantly enhanced connectivity to key tourist destinations, reducing travel time and improving accessibility to remote and heritage-rich regions. The improved air and helicopter connectivity not only boosted tourist inflow but also opened new avenues for private investment, local entrepreneurship and employment generation.
Rural tourism also gained strong momentum during this period. Over the past two years, more than 400 homestays have been operationalised across villages and scenic rural belts, directly supporting local livelihoods and promoting authentic cultural experiences. Encouraged by the success of this model, the state has set an ambitious target of developing 1,000 homestays in the coming years.
Investment promotion initiatives such as Regional Tourism Conclaves and the Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart delivered encouraging results. Together, these platforms attracted tourism investment proposals worth nearly ₹10,000 crore, reflecting growing private sector confidence in Madhya Pradesh as a high-potential tourism destination.
Religious and cultural tourism continued to remain a key focus area. Significant progress was achieved in the development of Omkareshwar as ‘Advait Lok’. Following the installation of the iconic 108-feet statue of Adi Shankaracharya, approvals exceeding ₹2,424 crore were granted for Phase-II of the Advait Lok project. Parallel initiatives such as the Shri Ramchandra Van Gaman Path and Shri Krishna Pathey have added new dimensions to faith-based tourism circuits across the state.
These sustained efforts translated into strong tourism performance. Madhya Pradesh recorded more than 14 crore tourist arrivals in 2024, reflecting an impressive growth of nearly 25 percent in tourist footfall. To preserve and showcase the state’s rich heritage, a new chain of museums is being developed. Specialised museums are currently under construction in Ujjain, Bhopal, Gwalior, Sagar, Panna, Jabalpur and Maheshwar, strengthening cultural conservation alongside tourism promotion.
The year 2025 also brought national and international recognition, with the Tourism Department receiving several prestigious awards. In line with the commitment to inclusive and safe tourism, around 50,000 women and girls were trained to enhance participation and safety standards across the tourism ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the state has set a clear roadmap to increase tourism’s contribution to the state GDP to 10 percent. Plans include the development of 500 new hotels, addition of nearly 20,000 rooms, and establishment of 500 wayside amenity centres across major highways and tourist routes.
Overall, 2025 stands out as a milestone year for Madhya Pradesh Tourism, defined by bold initiatives, record investments and forward-looking policies that have firmly positioned the state among India’s leading and most promising tourism destinations.
