Madhya Pradesh Tourism Achieves New Milestones in 2025 with Record Investment, Connectivity and Cultural Expansion
Madhya Pradesh recorded over 14 crore tourist arrivals in 2024, registering nearly 25 percent growth in tourist footfall
In line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote cultural resurgence and tourism-led economic growth, Madhya Pradesh has registered remarkable achievements in tourism, culture and investment during the year 2025. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, the state has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing and most innovative tourism destinations.
The year 2025 proved to be a landmark phase for the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB), driven by policy reforms, infrastructure development, improved connectivity and strong private sector participation. These efforts were carried out under the guidance of Minister of State (Independent Charge), Tourism, Culture, Religious Trusts & Endowments, Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi, and Additional Chief Secretary Sheo Shekhar Shukla, who also serves as Managing Director, MPTB.
To enhance connectivity and ease of travel, Madhya Pradesh launched the PM SHRI Tourism Air Service and PM SHRI Tourism Helicopter Service in 2025 under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The air service now connects eight major cities including Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Rewa, Singrauli, Khajuraho and Ujjain, while helicopter services link key religious, wildlife and eco-tourism destinations such as Omkareshwar, Pachmarhi, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Chitrakoot and Amarkantak. These initiatives have significantly improved last-mile connectivity and opened new opportunities for tourism-led employment and investment.
Madhya Pradesh recorded over 14 crore tourist arrivals in 2024, registering nearly 25 percent growth in tourist footfall. Rural tourism emerged as a major growth driver, with more than 400 homestays becoming operational over the past two years, generating over ₹7 crore in income for rural communities. The state aims to expand this network to 1,000 homestays in the coming period.
Investment promotion remained a key focus area. Through platforms such as Regional Tourism Conclaves, Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart and the Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2025, investment intent proposals exceeding ₹64,000 crore were received. Allocation of land parcels, heritage properties and wayside amenity centres has further strengthened investor confidence in the tourism sector.
Significant progress was also made in religious and cultural tourism. Omkareshwar is being developed as ‘Advait Lok’, with Phase-II approved at a cost of over ₹2,424 crore, following the installation of the 108-feet statue of Adi Shankaracharya. Initiatives such as Shri Ramchandra Van Gaman Path, Shri Krishna Pathey and the development of multiple cultural and religious ‘Loks’ across the state have added new dimensions to faith-based tourism.
In the field of heritage conservation, 15 new sites from Madhya Pradesh were included in UNESCO’s Tentative List in 2025, reaffirming the state’s rich cultural and natural legacy. The state also continued to expand its network of specialised museums and cultural institutions.
Madhya Pradesh Tourism received several prestigious national and international awards during the year, recognising excellence in heritage tourism, adventure tourism, responsible tourism and MICE development.
With ambitious plans to increase tourism’s contribution to the state GDP to 10 percent, including the development of new hotels, rooms and wayside amenities, the year 2025 stands out as a defining chapter in Madhya Pradesh’s journey towards becoming one of India’s leading tourism destinations.
