- A wildlife tourism boom in Madhya Pradesh!
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh is rapidly emerging as a premier destination for wildlife tourism, with its majestic Tiger Reserves experiencing a continuous surge in both domestic and international visitors. This growing popularity highlights the state’s success in attracting nature enthusiasts from across the globe.
The latest figures for 2024-25 (up to May) reveal a significant increase in foreign tourist arrivals to Madhya Pradesh’s renowned Tiger Reserves. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve led the pack with an impressive 32,528 foreign visitors, followed by Kanha Tiger Reserve (23,059), Panna Tiger Reserve (15,201), Pench Tiger Reserve (13,127), and Satpura Tiger Reserve (10,038).
These numbers represent a substantial leap compared to the previous year (2023-24), where Bandhavgarh saw 25,894 foreign tourists, Kanha 18,179, Panna 12,538, Pench 9,856, and Satpura 6,876.
Looking at the broader trend, foreign tourist arrivals have shown remarkable growth: 109 in 2020-21, soaring to 5,945 in 2021-22, 21,266 in 2022-23, 25,894 in 2023-24, and reaching 32,528 by May 2024-25. Over the past five years, the state’s Tiger Reserves have collectively hosted 738,637 Indian tourists and 85,742 foreign tourists, totaling 824,379 visitors.
This tourism boom has translated into substantial revenue. The Tiger Reserves generated approximately Rs 4.65 crore in 2020-21, Rs 11.88 crore in 2021-22, Rs 13.90 crore in 2022-23, Rs 14.10 crore in 2023-24, and a remarkable Rs 16.67 crore by May 2024-25. Cumulatively, over the last five years, the Tiger Reserves have garnered an impressive income of approximately Rs 61.22 crore.
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve: The undisputed favorite
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve has cemented its status as the top choice for tourists, consistently witnessing an annual increase in visitor numbers. Indian tourist arrivals have steadily grown from 120,800 in 2020-21 to 160,500 by May 2024-25, with figures of 169,738 in 2021-22, 164,559 in 2022-23, and 123,032 in 2023-24. This growth is mirrored in the rising numbers of foreign tourists, solidifying Bandhavgarh’s position as a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
