From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay on Tuesday underlined the need for aggressive marketing of tourism destinations in the North East India to increase the volume of tourists’ inflow and appealed the private sector to provide the desired thrust in tourism promotion that will generate employment besides earning revenue.
He said the central government was keen to help N-E state governments to development infrastructure and facilities in destinations while the private sector needs to go for aggressive marketing of destinations in this potential region.
After chairing a meeting with tourism officials of Northeastern states and other stakeholders here, Sahay said, “The NE has not been marketed properly. Tourism is a private-driven sector and I request the private operators and stakeholders to help in developing and promoting the region. On the central government’s part I promise all support to private tour operators as well as the state governments for development of tourist destinations and creating necessary infrastructure.”
He also urged the state governments of the region to include tourism in its political-economic agenda and place it among the priority sectors.
The Union Minister pointed out the NE’s advantage in unexplored terrain and said promoting eco-tourism would be a value addition for the tourism sector in the region.
Sahay said though the Tourism Ministry had earmarked the minimum allocation for the region, more funds could be provided subject to requests from private tour operators as well as state governments of the region.
He said the N-E state governments should prepare detail project reports for tourism development in the public-private partnership mode and pledged to bear the cost of such preparation of DPRs.
The Minister informed that the Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) was preparing an NE action plan for tourism and the Centre would work on its recommendations and suggestions.
A tourism mart will be organised in NE towards the last quarter of the current year and the Centre will facilitate marketing NE India destinations outside the country, he informed.
Terming tourism sector as the biggest generator of employment Sahay mentioned that the Planning Commission has identified developing tourism sector as a means for poverty alleviation, particularly involving rural and semi-educated populace.
He also underlined the need for skill development for tourism promotion and said the Centre was undertaking various schemes for the purpose.