Chhattisgarh Tourism Policy 2020

The Chhattisgarh Tourism Policy 2020 is a five-year framework to position Chhattisgarh as the country's best eco-ethnic tourist destination — capital investment subsidy for local entrepreneurs, a stacked investor incentive package across capital, interest, land-lease, SGST, electricity-duty, renewable-energy, employment and technology heads, theme-based tourism offerings and a PPP-led implementation route through the CTB and the State Level Empowered Committee.

Chhattisgarh — the 'Rice Bowl of India' and 'Young at Heart' state — was ranked among the top 10 states by footfall by the Ministry of Tourism in 2013. With nearly half the state under forest cover and around 32% indigenous population, it offers scope for eco, ethnic, adventure and cultural tourism. With tourism emerging as a key contributor to economic development, the State framed this restructured policy to accelerate tourism development and state branding while catering to the socio-economic needs of local communities, upholding ethnic identity and preserving the state's eco-system.

Vision and Mission

• •Vision (Cl. 2.1): to establish the state as the best eco-ethnic tourist destination in the country by building upon its strengths as a state rich in biodiversity and cultural ethnicity.
• •Mission (Cl. 2.2): to harness the untapped tourism potential in the state through brand positioning and tourism development, aligned with empowerment of indigenous communities and improvement of livelihood opportunities at the community level, leveraging the locational and socio-economic advantages of the tourism industry.

Guiding Principles (Cl. 2.3)

• •Develop tourism on the principles of responsible and sustainable tourism.
• •Sensitise the public on environmental conservation and create a tourist-friendly, receptive atmosphere.
• •Build an institutional mechanism promoting easy investment on the ideology of Ease of Doing Business, with simple, efficient and robust clearance processes.
• •Standardise development of tourism destinations on principles of hygiene, safety and barrier-free planning, especially for differently-abled and senior citizens.
• •Create fair opportunities in the sector irrespective of gender, creed and class.
• •Set up an effective regulatory mechanism for sustainable and responsible tourism development.

Objectives of the Policy (Cl. 2.4)

• •Offer an enabling environment for the tourism ecosystem, providing an enriching experience to tourists.
• •Uphold the indigeneity of the state by preserving and promoting cultural and ecological diversity.
• •Ensure cooperation and participation of local/indigenous people and make them partners in economic development.
• •Upscale the quality of tourism by improving the attractiveness of tourism products, offerings and service standards.
• •Integrate tourism as an engine of growth for underdeveloped/undeveloped areas, focused on local socio-economic development and inclusive growth.
• •Create a conducive environment for seamless public, private and community participation.
• •Give thrust to the shared-economy trend for optimum utilisation of resources and to address neglected and underdeveloped segments of the industry.

Four Key Strategies (Cl. 3)

The Policy supersedes the previous Tourism Policy 2002 and Incentive Scheme 2006–2016 and the provisions in those preceding publications. It expressly provides that its provisions apply uniformly across the State for a period of 5 years from the date of Gazette notification.

Eligible Tourism Projects (Annexure I, Cl. 8.1)

• •New Tourism Projects (8.1.1): projects listed at Cl. 8.2 that commence construction after entering into the agreement with the MD, CTB (as per Cl. 7.1.2).
• •Existing Tourism Project undergoing expansion (8.1.2): an existing project expanding its capacity by at least >50% (e.g. rooms/rides/tents). Only one expansion is eligible during the policy period, and only the new-construction part qualifies, provided it re-qualifies against the relevant project definition.

Key Definitions

General Conditions — Investor Incentives (Cl. 6.1)

• •Only projects listed in the 'Tourism Projects' definition (Annexure I) are eligible to apply.
• •The Eligible Tourism Project shall be commercially operationalised before availing incentives 6.2.1 to 6.2.3.
• •Local empowerment mandate: at least 90% of non-skilled workers employed in operation and management shall be domiciles of Chhattisgarh.
• •The project shall provide accessibility components and mandatory facilities for the differently-abled, senior citizens and transgenders per the National Building Code.
• •Declaration to avoid multiple funding: the applicant must declare it is not availing subsidy/financial assistance for the same project from GoI or the State under any other policy/scheme; the same incentive cannot be double-availed. False/misleading declaration causes disqualification, discontinuation and legal action.
• •Information disclosure on operations, employment, turnover and incentives availed on a half-yearly basis (or as required).
• •The project shall be commercialised within the time stipulated in the SLEC-approved agreement with MD, CTB (extensions decided separately by SLEC).

Twenty-two Eligible Project Types (Annexure I, Cl. 8.2)

Selected definitions; several projects carry different area/room thresholds inside vs outside the Municipal Corporation boundary.

A. Capital Investment Subsidy for Local Entrepreneurs (Cl. 5.2)

Eligible projects for this subsidy (Cl. 5.2.2): Stand-alone Restaurant/Cafe (as a 'Gadh Kalewa' franchisee or ethnic-cuisine chain); Project for Revival of Indigenous Arts & Crafts (with District Collector certification); Souvenir Shops; Homestay & Bed-and-Breakfast (refurbishment of an existing unit's rooms); Tribal Village (registered society/SHG/legal entity of a tribal group); Battery Carts/Rickshaws/Boats (in DLTC-identified tourism areas); Audio/Video Guide services; Drone Technology to promote tourism; Car & Caravan hire services; and Public Toilets/Parking (on user-fee basis in DLTC-selected areas). Projects outside these categories may still route through the DLTC on a suitability basis.

B. Mega Tourism Project — Capital Investment Subsidy (Cl. 6.2.1, any location)

C. Qualified Tourism Project at a 'Tourism Destination' (Cl. 6.2.2)

D. Additional Incentives at a 'Priority Tourism Destination' (Cl. 6.2.3)

E. Marketing, Research, Accolades (Cl. 6.2.4 & 6.3)

A. Major Tourism Themes (Cl. 4)

B. Other Tourism Themes (Cl. 4.4–4.14)

Adventure Tourism · Water Tourism (Mahanadi, Indravati, Hasdeo, Kharun, Shivnath, Arpa) · Highway Tourism (~3,250 km of highways) · Heritage Tourism (47 ASI monuments of national importance + 58 state-protected) · Religious Tourism (Rajim, Sirpur, Ratanpur, Bhoramdeo, Champaran, etc.) · Business/Leisure & MICE Tourism · Industrial Tourism (closed/abandoned mines) · Backpacker Tourism · Agro Tourism (Narwa-Garwa-Ghurwa-Badi) · Film Tourism · Wildlife Tourism.

C. Theme-specific Guidelines the Policy Promised (to be notified separately)

• •Ecotourism Policy / Guidelines
• •Chhattisgarh State Wellness Tourism Guidelines & Medical Tourism Guidelines
• •Chhattisgarh State Water Tourism Guidelines
• •Chhattisgarh State's Adventure Sports Guidelines
• •Chhattisgarh State Agro Tourism Guidelines
• •Chhattisgarh State Film Tourism Guidelines
• •Chhattisgarh State Homestay and Bed & Breakfast Scheme and Guidelines

D. Infrastructure & Enabling Approaches (Cl. 3.1)

• •Core infrastructure (transport, power, telecom, water, sanitation), tourism travel & stay, and tourism experience — planned with carrying-capacity analysis and barrier-free design.
• •Land Bank: CTB to prepare and publish a schedule of land parcels; allotment through a transparent mechanism; CTB is nodal for establishment of tourism in these areas.
• •Master Plan & SADA: theme-based master plans; a Special Area Development Authority may be conceived, applying Development Control Regulations and design standards.
• •Convergence of schemes: Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, HRIDAY, AMRUT, Hunar Se Rojgar, and resources such as DMFT and CAMPA.
• •PPP: project financing models at Annexure II — Build Operate Transfer (DBO/DBFOT/BOOT/BOO variants), Management Contract, Lease and Licence (licence not exceeding 10 years, no permanent construction).
• •Multilateral / bilateral funding for pro-poor, inclusive tourism development in low-income but asset-rich areas.

Threshold Conditions

Document Checklist — Investor Incentive (Cl. 6)

Document Checklist — Local Entrepreneur Subsidy (Cl. 5 & 7.5)

Strings Attached

Discretion is retained throughout. The DLTC may shortlist or reject; the CTB/SLEC may reject any project not within the stated definitions; and SLEC's decision on interpretation of any provision is final and binding. Benefits are subject to the annual 'Tourism Policy Budget' (split 20:80 between projects below and at/above ₹50 lakh) and to availability of funds — approval is not automatic even where eligibility is met.

Recovery risk. Any project availing incentives on fraudulent grounds or incorrect information is liable to cancellation and recovery, without prior notice. Non-compliance with regulations, the Minimum Wages Act or employment policy lets the State discontinue or recover incentives. Keep the declaration, employment and disclosure records complete and current for the full benefit period.

Investor Route (Cl. 7.4)

1. 1Step 1 — Eligible unit applies to the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) in the prescribed format.
2. 2Step 2 — On a 'First Come First Served' basis, CTB checks eligibility and completeness of documents against the parameters.
3. 3Step 3 — Applications qualifying at Step 2 are issued a Provisional Registration Number (PRN) recording date and time.
4. 4Step 4 — SLEC scrutinises cases in PRN order, approves eligible applications, and empowers the MD, CTB to enter into an agreement.
5. 5Step 5 — A PRN not approved in the current financial year carries forward to the next FY.
6. 6Step 6 — MD, CTB issues the sanction/agreement — final and binding on the applicant.
7. 7Step 7 — The approved applicant claims incentives as per the agreement / sanction letter.

Local entrepreneur route (Cl. 7.5): proposal to the DLTC (project cost below ₹50 lakh) → DLTC shortlists a maximum of 2 applications per district per year and forwards to CTB → remaining steps follow the investor route above.

Priority runs in PRN order and against the annual budget — a materially complete application filed early has a real advantage. Because SLEC can reject without stating reasons and approval is budget-bound, do not treat eligibility as a guarantee of sanction; keep the client's expectation framed around the PRN queue and available budget.

Composition — State Level Empowered Committee (19 members)

Composition — District Level Tourism Committee

Budget Provision (Cl. 7.2)

• •A separate 'Tourism Policy Budget' is approved for incentives and subsidies, distinct from CTB's operational budget.
• •Split 20:80 — 20% for projects with investment below ₹50 lakh and 80% for projects at/above ₹50 lakh.
• •Unspent funds may be re-appropriated by the State on CTB's demand; multi-year disbursements are provisioned since most benefits fall due post-COD.

• •16/04/2020: Chhattisgarh Tourism Policy 2020 notified vide No. F 7-1/2018/33/Tourism by the Department of Tourism, in the name of the Governor. The Policy comes into effect from the date of Gazette publication.
• •On notification: Supersedes the Tourism Policy 2002, the Incentive Scheme 2006–2016 and prior provisions. Provisions apply uniformly across the State.
• •During policy period: Theme-specific guidelines (Ecotourism, Wellness, Medical, Water, Adventure Sports, Agro, Film, Homestay & B&B) to be issued separately; Land Bank schedule and Priority Tourism Destination list to be published on the CTB website; SADA may be constituted for master-planned destinations.
• •~16/04/2025: End of the 5-year policy period. The Policy is expressed to be in effect for 5 years from Gazette publication; on that basis the operative period lapsed on or about this date.
• •04/06/2025: The Chhattisgarh cabinet approved the Chhattisgarh Homestay Policy 2025–30, targeting rural and tribal tourism in the Bastar and Surguja divisions. This is a distinct, narrower instrument and does not reproduce the 2020 incentive package.
• •As on 13/08/2026: No confirmed re-notified or extended full Chhattisgarh Tourism Policy replacing the 2020 document has been verified. A revised state tourism policy appears to have been under stakeholder consultation by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board. Confirm the current regime directly with the Department of Tourism / CTB before relying on any figure below.