3rd International Tourism Mart inaugurated in city
SHILLONG: While the disturbed state of Manipur witnessed tremendous growth in the tourism sector registering about 154 per cent increase in flow of foreign tourists in 2012-13, Meghalaya saw an increase of only 27 per cent in the same period, Parvez Dewan, Secretary, Union Ministry of Tourism, revealed on Tuesday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 3rd International Tourism Mart at the State Convention Centre here, Dewan informed that Arunachal Pradesh has seen a growth of 111 per cent followed by Tripura with 51 per cent, Nagaland 33 per cent, Sikkim 19 per cent and Mizoram 9.25 per cent.
He also said that the growth of foreign tourists visiting the North East stands at 27.9 per cent.
Mentioning that the Union Government has been according priority to the growth of tourism industry in the North East region, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Shripad Naik, informed that the Centre has taken several initiatives to boost the tourism sector across the country with special focus on the North East.
In order to improve connectivity in the North East, the Union Ministry of Tourism has proposed an investment of Rs.3,000 crore in the region for the development of highways and state roads, Naik said.
He said that Government has recognized that Tourism will prove to be a game changer for the region as well as the country.
Inaugurating the Tourism Mart, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma emphasized on the need to develop a mechanism to ensure constant inflow of tourists to the North East region, and mentioned that the Meghalaya Government was making efforts to project the State as an ideal tourist destination.
The Chief Minister was all praise for the Central Government which was according significance to the tourism potential of the North East region, and expressed confidence that the ideas shared in the ongoing conclave will clear doubts and misconceptions about the region and in the process facilitate the inflow of tourists to this part of the country.
Enlightening the gathering about the historical connections between the North East and countries like Thailand and Cambodia, dating back to the 1st Century AD, the Chief Minister said that this will also provide an opportunity to delve deeper into such cultural similarities and work on these ties to develop a mechanism where there can be a constant inflow and outflow of tourist to and from these countries.
He hoped that through this Tourism Mart, the world will see the North East region as an ideal destination for travellers and expressed optimism that the inflow of tourists will increase manifold in the days to come.
During the three-day programme, representatives from the region will get an opportunity to showcase their tourism destinations and potentials and also interact with delegates from across the world.
The objective of the Tourism Mart is to highlight the tourism potential of the region in the domestic and international markets and to bring tourism business fraternity and entrepreneurs from the region as well as West Bengal. Besides, this event will facilitate interaction between buyers, sellers, media, government agencies and other stakeholders in the tourism sector.