1- An Overview of the Existing Tourism Scenario, Tourism Offering, Incentives being given under UP Tourism Policy 2018 & brief of the current initiatives taken by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of -Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, U.P.

An Overview of the Existing Tourism Scenario, Tourism Offering, Incentives being given under UP Tourism Policy 2018 and brief of the current initiatives taken by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh for development of tourism infrastructure in Bundelkhand are as follows:-

Tourist Statistics

Most visited tourist destinstions in the State

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Major tourist destinstions in Bundelkhand

Jhansi Region

 Jhansi Airport–No commercial operation. Nearest Airport is Gwalior Airport ~100 Km which connects directly from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru.  Well connected through National & State Highways with all major cities of UP & other states.  Jhansi Junction Railway Station– One of the busiest railway station and links all major cities and tourism destinations.  Budget Hotels - Raobagh Palace, Jhansi Hotel, Hotel Sita, Hotel Sheela Shree Plaza.  Ideal for-Historical & Heritage Tourism, Adventure Sports / Water Sports, Buddhist Circuit, Jain Circuit.

 Tourism Infrastructure Development (Rs. 295.37 Lakh)

 Signage at important tourist destinations in Jhansi & Lalitpur  Interlocking works at tourist sites in Jhansi  Beautification of Tourist Guest House at Deogarh, Lalitpur  Beautification & development at Mahakaleshwar temple at Madhogarh and other sites at Orai, Jalaun

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Chitrakoot Region

 100 Kms from Prayagraj Airport to Chitrakoot, 220 Kms from Lucknow International Airport to Chitrakoot.  Regular bus services to & fro from Chitrakoot through well connected National & State Highways.  Karwi Railway Station– Links all major cities and tourism destinations in UP & .  For Budget Hotels–The River Front Resort, Tourist Bungalow, Shree Jee Bhawan, Bandiram Hotel.  Ideal for-Cultural & Pilgrimage Tourism, Heritage & Historical Tourism, Eco Tourism.

Tourism Infrastructure Development (Rs.4695.68 Lakh)

Chitrakoot  Covered Sheds, Benches, Water Cooler at Parikarma Path  Food Plaza, Parking, Foot Over Bridge  Tourist Facilitation Centre, Modern Toilet  Digital Ramayana Gallery & Laser Show  Last Mile Connectivity, Chitrakoot Banda  Dev. of Kalinjar Fort under Heritage Circuit  Dev. of Tapoovan Vatika Ashram, Bameshwar Mandir & Simauni Baba Ashram Mahoba  Construction of Bridge at Badi Chandrika Devi Temple, Mahoba  Development at Charkhari, Mahoba  Development of Madan Sagar, Kirat Sagar and Rawatpura Temple

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Tourism Policy 2018 Incentives will be provided within 20 KM of all tourist sites, as per the notification from the Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

• The Ramayana Circuit–, Chitrakoot, Shringverpur • The Krishna/Braj Circuit–Mathura, Vrindavan, Goverdhan, Gokul, Barsana, Nandgaon • The Buddhist Circuit– Kapilvastu, , Kushinagar, Kaushambi, Shravasti, Sankisa • Wildlife & Eco Tourism Circuit–Dudhwa, Pilibhit, Katarniaghat, Bakhira Sanctuary and other sanctuaries listed in policy • The Bundelkhand Circuit–Charkhari (Mahoba), Chitrakoot, Kalinjar, Jhansi, Deogarh, Lalitpur • The Circuit–Hastinapur (Meerut), (Farukkhabad), Ahichchhatra, Barnava (Baghpat), Mathura, Kaushambi, Gonda • The Shakti Peeth Circuit–Vindhyavasini Devi (Vindhyachal), Pateshwari Devi Devipatan (Balrampur), Kadavasini (Kaushambi), Lalita Devi (Naimisharanya), Jwala Devi (Sonbhadra), Shakumbhari Devi (Saharanpur), Shivani Devi (Chitrakoot), Katyayini Devi (Mathura) • The Aadhyatmik Circuit–Gorakhpur, Balrampur, Ghazipur (Hathiyaram, Bhudkura), Goriya (Mathura), Sant Ravidas Sthal (Varanasi) • The Sufi/Kabir Circuit–Jayas (Amethi), Maghar (Sant Kabir Nagar), Salim Chishti Dargah (Fatehpur Sikri), Dewa Sharif (Barabanki)

Fiscal Incentives • Capital subsidy to New Tourism Unit

Category Subsidy Capital Investment (Whichever is less) New Hotel/ Resort 15% or INR 7.5 cr. INR 10 cr. to INR 50 cr. 15% or INR 10 cr. More than INR 50 cr.

New Budget Hotel 15% or INR 1.5 cr. INR 2 cr. to INR 10 cr.

New Sports Resort 10% or INR 1 cr. Minimum investment of INR 1 cr. Subsidy only on equipment cost New Tented Accommodation 20% or INR 0.5 cr. Minimum investment of INR 0.2 cr. Subsidy only on permanent installation

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New Wellness Centre 15% or INR 7.5 cr. INR 2 cr. to INR 50 cr.

15% or INR 10 cr. More than INR 50 cr.

New Convention Centre 15% or INR 7.5 cr. Up to INR 50 cr. 15% or INR 10 cr. More than INR 50 cr.

Adventure Tourism Projects, 10% or INR 1 cr. Minimum investment of INR 1 cr. Subsidy only Cruise Tourism Units and on equipment cost, infrastructure and installation House Boats of permanent facility Sound & Light Show/Laser 25% or INR 2.5 cr. Minimum investment of INR 1 cr. Subsidy only Show on equipment cost New Theme Park 10% or INR 1 cr. Minimum investment of INR 2 cr. Subsidy only on equipment cost

• Interest Subsidy 5% of the loan amount with maximum amount of INR 25 lakh per annum for a period of five years, to eligible tourism units. • Stamp Duty 100% exemption of on sale/lease/transfer of land for the first transaction only during the operative period of the policy. • Conversion and Development Charges 100% waiver on land use conversion and development charges for all new tourism units. • Skill Development  Reimbursement of 100% of hospitality related course fees, for up to INR 10,000 per person per course, with the course duration of fortnight.  Subsidy of INR 5 lakh to individual/group involved in reviving the indigenous and scarce art, music, craft, folk dance and cuisine of Uttar Pradesh. • UP Tourism Policy has attracted 212 proposals with INR 18,000 crore of investment intentions across the State. This includes 6 proposals from Bundelkhand region under various category such as Budget & Heritage Hotel. Hotel Natraj Sai (Sarovar Portico) in Jhansi have started commercial operations of the project.

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Key Challenges Connectivity: No air connectivity in this region. Destination other than Jhansi & Chitrakoot are not properly connected by rail. Most of the road are in bad condition. Journey Experience: Lack of infrastructure like Electricity, Telecommunication, Water availability and wayside amenities in between major destinations. Lack of signage also makes the journey unpleasant. Local Public Transportation: Limited public transportation, tourists find it difficult to move conveniently to all sites within the destination. Accommodation: Lack of quality accommodation in the region. Visitor Experience: Lacking basic amenities like sanitation, drinking water, toilet, eateries etc Missing Connect: The region lacks the connect between the visitors/tourists and the local art, culture and crafts which needs to be promoted Way Forward  Strengthen Air / Rail / Road Connectivity.  Attracting Private Sector investments & Enabling PPP projects.  Creation & Strengthening of basic tourism services & infrastructure.  Branding & Promoting Bundelkhand with linkage to Ramayana Circuit, Buddha Circuit, Jain Circuit, Spiritual Circuit & Eco Circuit.  Revival of local art, craft, cuisine and culture etc.  Organising Cultural Events like Mahotsav at Kalinjar, Chitrakoot & Jhansi.

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