Chhattisgarh Tourism Minister Ajay Chandrakar on Thursday said expansion of the tourism industry in his state would generate employment opportunities for tribal youth and help in curbing Left-wing extremism.

Addressing a conference of state tourism ministers in New Delhi, Chandrakar said Chhattisgarh should be given special category status like Jammu and Kashmir and the northeastern states for developing its tourism industry.

He said Chhattisgarh has immense potential for eco-tourism as 44 percent of the state is forested.

He said the Chhattisgarh government has chalked out an elaborate plan for expansion of tourism in areas affected by Left-wing extremism such as Bastar and Sarguja.