India’s Ministry of Tourism has allocated 5.6 billion rupees in the five year plan for infrastructure development for the tourism sector across the north eastern region of India to promote its potential in the global community.
Dr K Chiranjeevi, Union Minister of Tourism (Independent charge) made the following statement on Saturday during the inaugural function of the first International Tourism Mart, held in Guwahati.
“The Mart has brought together the tourism business fraternity and entrepreneurs from the eight states of NE region and West Bengal. Buyers and media delegates from 23 countries and from different regions of the country are participating in the three day long Mart and will be engaging in one-to-one meeting with sellers from the NE region and West Bengal.”
Dr Chiranjeevi added the Ministry of Tourism is committed to the development and promotion of tourism in the NE region. He also highlighted the Ministry’s initiatives promoting tourism in the region.
Attendees
Around 83 buyer delegates from 23 countries including 10 ASEAN countries participated in the Mart. Those countries were Bangladesh, Bhutan, Japan, Korea, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, UK and USA
70 domestic buyers from various parts of India and 108 sellers from the eight states in the NE region and West Bengal participated in the International Tourism Mart.
Funding For Promotional Campaigns
“The Tourism Ministry will provide funds to the NE states for infrastructure development of destinations and circuits, adventure tourism, rural tourism, construction of convention centres, heliports, setting up of Hotel Institutes and Food Craft Institutes,” the Union minister said.
In addition, the ministry has launched new promotional campaigns on the themes ‘Find What You Seek’ and ‘Go Beyond’ and it highlighted that “tourists from across the world can find the destination or product of their desire in India and promote lesser known destinations including the NE region,” Dr K Chiranjeevi said.
The Ministry of Tourism released domestic television campaigns on the NE to promote to the region and provide complimentary space to the NE states in the India pavilions set up at major International travel fairs and exhibitions. Two of those travel exhibitions are London’s World Travel Market and Berlin’s International Tourism Bourse. These international travel fairs give the states an opportunity to showcase and promote their tourist destinations and products.
“The ministry plans to develop the infrastructure of 365 destinations in the country and also increase the tourist flow from 0.6% to 1% in next five years.”
Jointly organised by India’s Ministry of Tourism and Assam’s state government, the International event was formally inaugurated by Assam Governor JB Patnaik at Sarusajai stadium in Guwahati on Saturday.
During the colourful inaugural function, all participating states performed their tribal dance and culture.
59,000 foreign tourists arrived in the NE region in 2011, with a total of 6.6 million throughout India.
