New Delhi, The Centre has envisioned creation of destination management authorities across the country to foster a holistic environment in and around tourist sites. Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the aim is to promote a sense of 'jan andolan' and 'jan bhagidari' among the local community.
The move is aimed at building a sense of ownership for heritage and other tourism sites among all stakeholders associated with a destination. Historic cultural sites in India often fail to draw tourists in large numbers due to encroachment, congestion, and/or lack of civic amenities in the areas adjoining these sites.
The Centre has asked states to create destination management organisations (DMOs) for their prime destinations. The DMOs will be administered by state-level officials and will be responsible for managing the entire ecosystem related to a destination.
Shekhawat said the best example of such destination management is the authority associated with Ekta Nagar, the site of the Statue of Unity near Kevadia in Gujarat. The Centre has urged states to create such DMOs for their prime destinations.
The minister said states have accepted the proposal with great enthusiasm and will establish DMOs for their chosen destinations according to the local framework. The DMOs will be headed by senior bureaucrats or district magistrates, depending on the state's framework.
