GANGTOK, April 28: The fourth Sectoral Summit on Tourism and Hospitality Industry started off today with reflective discussions on tourism promotion in the North Eastern states at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok among distinguished personalities from all the North Eastern states.The meeting was chaired by Ms Ambika Soni, Minister for Tourism, government of India, Mani Shanker Aiyer, Minister for DONER and Chairman to North East Council, Governors from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Ministers from Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.
Placing his opening remark Mani Shanker Aiyer said Sikkim is one of the best echo-friendly tourist destinations with tremendous potential in exploring more. He said it’s a high time to look for solutions that stand the way in making the whole of North East a coveted tourism destination in India.
Emphasising more on state based tourism, Aiyer too called for better tourism development plans. Speaking on tourism infrastructure development focusing road connectivity, he said there is no need for Sikkim to preach about tourism as it has already captivated a colossal number of tourists for its being peaceful and insurgency free state.
“Linkage tourism with the neighboring states and countries is the need of the hour” he indicated. More air, rail and road link ups will certainly invite maximum domestic as well foreign tourists, Shanker said. Informing that huge domestic tourist traffic is waiting to come to North East India if more concentration is made upon infrastructure and connectivity.
Aiyer informed nearly Rs 50,000 Crores are being invested by India government for North East in coming years. Promotion on village tourism and home stay with lower budget is what needed to be focus on, he clarified. He also specifically mentioned of relaxation in Inner Line Permits, restricted area permit to the insurgent free states which are unable to explore their tourism potentiality due to security reasons.
Likewise, Ms Ambika Soni cautioned that there should be more of what the NE states are talking in context to tourism promotion. Calling for an accelerated development in the state, she also mourned that despite initiation of several tourism projects hardly any one got completed.She pointed out that before making a larger picture, it’s high time for the states to order themselves perfectly taking in the development concerns. As regards to rural or village tourism, she informed nearly hundred villages all over India have been identified in order to develop as village tourism.
“Now tourism has become the largest service provider in India”, she added emphasising on sustainable tourism promotion in the North Eastern states. Earlier, making her Power Point presentation Ms Sushma Singh, Secretary to DONER and NEC brought into highlights the various tourism projects in the pipe lines.
Talking about the impediments at tourism promotion in North Eastern states, Ms Singh underlined that lack of good hotels; infrastructure and connectivity are the major hindrances in tourism development.
Ms Soni today justified the necessity of resolving funding issues for Gangtok airport as the Detailed Project Report is ready by now. The total estimated cost of the construction is Rs 340 Crores. “Airport at Gangtok will boost tourism”, she said.
Also specific allocations of Rs 10.60 Crores from Deorali to Tashiling, Rs 15 Crores for village tourism, Rs 20 Crores for rope-way from Namchi to Samdruptse, 2000 youths trained in tourism are a few added perks for the state of Sikkim announced today.
A stress was also laid on ecotourism, adventure tourism and heritage tourism at the high level conclave today. Others to address the congregation were the Governors and the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Mizoram and Nagaland.
