DIPR
Dimapur, May 22
North Eastern Council has agreed to fund the State Level Project Management Agencies for planning and development of tourism in all north eastern states. The decision was taken in a meeting relating to promotion of tourism in north eastern states held at NEC Secretariat on May 22 under the chairmanship of MP Bazbaruah, Member of North Eastern Council and in the presence of Ameising Luikham, Secretary of NEC.
Addressing the participants, MP Bezbaruah has stressed on the need for prioritization of schemes pertaining to the tourism development and related activities according to the tourism master plan. The tourism master plan for the north eastern region which is considered as the regional plan has been prepared by the TCS with the financial support from North Eastern Council.While discussing the NEC’s agenda for the regional planning and development, Ameising Luikham, opined that to promote tourism NE States are required to prioritize the tourism related schemes/ projects in accordance with the tourism master plan. The tourism master plan consisted of 33 Tourism Circuits in the north eastern states of which 9 circuits have been prioritized for implementation.
Luikham also proposed that a northeast tourism website might also be developed to provide a single gateway to tourists interested on visiting northeast from other parts of the country and abroad. He suggested that the website should provide basic information about the tourism destination, facilities available, tourism circuits, route map, etc. to help the tourists plan their tourism destination. He also said the website should also provide links to the respective tourism websites of NE states and the Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism website.
Luikham also mentioned that NEC is committed to fund projects that aim regional development of tourism sector in Northeastern states. He further added that NEC would encourage each NE state to hold one State level festival on fixed dates which could be put up on national calendar of Ministry of Tourism.
NEC planning advisor J Lhungdim, NEC financial adviser GK Chin, NEC economic advisor W Synrem, NEC tourism advisor Gautam Chintey, NEC planning director D Khound, Principal Secretary of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya RY Suchiong, Economic adviser, Ministry of Tourism Devender Singh, Secretary of tourism, Government of Meghalaya MR Synrem, Secretary of tourism, Government of Assam Dhruba Hazarika, and representatives from Tourism Departments of North Eastern States, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Tata Consultancy Services and NIC have participated in the meeting.