CAG pulls Tourism Development Corp

Bhopal, Mar 20: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pulled up the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation for not achieving its primary objective of promoting tourism in the state. “The percentage of tourists availing its facilities was negligible. Poor basic infrastructural facilities and non-availability of professional staff to render quality services were the main reasons for poor patronage of its hotels by tourists'' says the CAG report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007 presented in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly on March 18.

Publication of advertisements in newspapers, journals and magazines without evolving an advertisement policy did not have any impact on tourist arrivals. In its refined role under the State Tourism Policy 1995, the corporation did not perform well in improving the infrastructural facilities with a view to facilitiating and preparation of master plans for selected areas, the report said. Delay in implementation of or not taking up various projects and schemes even after availability of sufficient funds, diversion of funds and non-adherance to the instructions of the Government of India were primarily responsible for non-achievement of intended objectives, the CAG said, adding the utilisation certificates furnished to the government did not correctly reflect the actual work done and amount spent out of the grants received by the company for specific purposes.
”Though Madhya Pradesh is a haven for multi attraction tourism and a promising brand, it is no where close to brand building,” the report pointed out. ''Brand positioning is essentially about perceptions and to get the market's acuity about the state in total, the selected approach needs to be taken to the market. Fact is that Madhya Pradesh is a major player in the 'Incrdible India' concept'', the CAG added.