Chhatisgarh safe for tourists: Tourism Board

"There is a notion among the people that there are Maoists which make the state unsafe for tourists. But let me tell you that the fact is it is not like that. No Naxalite is interested in tourists and so there is no reason to be afraid of them," P Sen Bhowmick, general manager of Chhatisgarh Tourism Board said at the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) here.

The ultras are only concerned with striking at government officials and police, he said while assuring tourists that the state is as safe as any other place can be.

"Tourism (in Chhatisgarh) is not affected at all. Besides, we have enough police, security officials and tourist department officials to take care of visitors," Bhowmick said.

Since the state has 44 per cent of its area under forest, it has immense potential for tribal, medical and adventure sports tourism respectively, he said.

To attract tourists, the Tourism Board is focusing on the tribal state's lush green forest, exotic wildlife, water falls, caves, rock paintings, tribal villages, ancient monuments, temples, Buddhists sites and heritage palaces, he added.