Gangtok, April 27: Tourism is currently the highest employment generating sector in the country, Union minister Ambika Soni said today.
Soni, who heads the tourism ministry, was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day North Eastern Council (NEC) summit on hospitality and tourism here.
Pointing out that information and technology was an area full of new opportunities but only for the educated and the tech-savvy, the minister said tourism is a sector, which is creating employment for the rural populace living in the remotest areas of the country.
“Be it the illiterate weavers or artisans living in the far-flung corners of the country, tourism has taken opportunities to their doorsteps to showcase their art and culture,” she said.
The two-day summit is also being attended by the Development of the North Eastern Region (Doner) minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, Assam governor Lt Gen. (retd) Ajay Singh, Arunachal Pradesh governor S.K. Singh, Mizoram chief minister P. Zoramthanga, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio and Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling.
Aiyar stressed on “concentric circles”, that is, development of tourism at the state, the regional and the national levels.
Hindrances to tourism like inner line permits (ILP), restricted area permits (RAP), protected area permits (PAP) were also discussed. The states have been told to arrive at a consensus and then forward their requests to the Centre.
This is the fourth sectoral summit of the NEC. Next month, Aizwal will host the summit on civil aviation while another one on railway networks will be held in Tripura in June.
Soni, who heads the tourism ministry, was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day North Eastern Council (NEC) summit on hospitality and tourism here.
Pointing out that information and technology was an area full of new opportunities but only for the educated and the tech-savvy, the minister said tourism is a sector, which is creating employment for the rural populace living in the remotest areas of the country.
“Be it the illiterate weavers or artisans living in the far-flung corners of the country, tourism has taken opportunities to their doorsteps to showcase their art and culture,” she said.
The two-day summit is also being attended by the Development of the North Eastern Region (Doner) minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, Assam governor Lt Gen. (retd) Ajay Singh, Arunachal Pradesh governor S.K. Singh, Mizoram chief minister P. Zoramthanga, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio and Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling.
Aiyar stressed on “concentric circles”, that is, development of tourism at the state, the regional and the national levels.
Hindrances to tourism like inner line permits (ILP), restricted area permits (RAP), protected area permits (PAP) were also discussed. The states have been told to arrive at a consensus and then forward their requests to the Centre.
This is the fourth sectoral summit of the NEC. Next month, Aizwal will host the summit on civil aviation while another one on railway networks will be held in Tripura in June.
