“There is a need to change the mindset towards the state of Jharkhand from extraction to attraction,” said chief minister Hemant Soren during the launch of Jharkhand Tourism Policy 2021 at New Delhi on Saturday.

“We want to promote Jharkhand as a must visit destination as the water, forest, hills, rivers and waterfalls have immense tourism potential. In every corner of the state one can see natural sceneries. The new tourism policy reflects this objective,” said Soren.

Taking a dig at the previous governments in the state and the Centre, Soren said: “Jharkhand has always been looked as a milk giving cow by the earlier governments. While the state has helped the country through its natural resources but it seems nobody has bothered about Jharkhand’s interest.”

Soren while welcoming investors to the state in tourism sector also said that special packages and incentives would be given for initial investors.

He also announced of constitution of a tourist security force.

“We are working on forming a tourist security force in the state for providing security to the tourist. The day is not far when in pristine tourist destinations of the state one would hear laughter and not bullets (of extremists),” said Soren adding that tourism is one sector that will spur economic activities in rural areas and create job opportunities.

To promote Jharkhand as “a must visit destination”, the chief minister launched the Tourism Policy 2021 in New Delhi on Saturday. The state government has drawn up mega plans to woo investors to set up adequate infrastructure in the tourism sector, an official said.

Jharkhand, carved out of the southern part of Bihar in 2000, has unexplored forests, famous places of worship, reserves, and waterfalls. The National Geographic Channel which has been roped in by the state government for promoting Jharkhand as a global tourism destination will also launch its ‘Postcards from Jharkhand’ premieres on Saturday.

“Fiscal incentives are to be provided for the promotion of tourism in Jharkhand for increasing the competitive attraction of Jharkhand as compared to other states. All the fiscal incentives shall be routed through the single window system of the department of industries,” the official said.

Those eligible for incentives are hotels, resorts, amusement parks, and ropeways set up with a minimum investment of Rs 10 crore, the official said.

Besides, wayside amenities built with a minimum investment of Rs 2 crore and water sports facilities set up with a minimum investment of Rs 1 crore are also eligible for incentives.

Cruise ships and houseboats with a minimum investment of Rs 1 crore, and camping sites and adventure sports facilities set up with a minimum investment of Rs 50 lakh are eligible for the incentives. The policy says capital incentives up to Rs 10 crore will be provided of which 50 per cent of it will be paid at the time of commission.

Other benefits include a subsidy for captive power generation, State Goods and Services Tax (SGST)-related incentives and electricity duty-related incentives. An additional 5 per cent incentive up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided to SC and ST entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, disabled persons, and ex-servicemen. An additional incentive of 5 per cent would also be provided for setting up units in Scheduled Areas outside the urban hubs, the official said.

Keeping in view the large investments required in the tourism sector and the need for maintaining high-quality standards in services, tourism related industries have been included in the priority list of industries for foreign investment. Export house status has been accorded to hotels, travel agents, tour operators, and tourist transport operators. “Foreign investments and technological collaborations by Overseas Corporate Bodies and NRIs would be encouraged in tourism,” the official said.