Tourism industry has the potential to develop as an alternative source of economy in the state: CM Saha

Tourism industry has the potential to develop as an alternative source of economy in the state Tourism industry has the potential to develop as an alternative source of economy in the state.

Therefore, the government has taken a multifaceted plan to develop the tourism industry in the state Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha said this in a review meeting of the Department of Tourism in the conference hall of the Secretariat yesterday. In the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed various projects of the tourism department and said that every tourist spot in the state should be made more beautiful and attractive to attract tourists from the country and abroad Besides, adequate security measures should be ensured at every tourist spot to protect the tourists. The Chief Minister opined in the meeting that there is a need to make the tourist guide system more active in the state like other states of the country.

The Chief Minister directed the Tourism Department officials to take initiatives to introduce home stay service near every tourist spots in the state to facilitate the accommodation of foreign tourists Secretary of Tourism Department Uttam Kumar Chakma said in the meeting that the department has undertaken several programmes to popularize adventure tourism in the state. These include paragliding, water sports, paramotoring, hot air ballooning, kayaking, rock climbing etc. He informed that in the first phase of the central government’s Swadesh Darshan scheme, the development of 10 tourist spots such as Agartala, Sepahijala, Melaghat, Udaipur, Amarpur, Tirthammukh, Mandirghat, Ambassa, Raishyabari and Baramura has been completed.

For this, the central government has sanctioned 82 crore 84 lakh 74 thousand rupees. Besides, the Central Government has sanctioned 50 crore 38 lakh rupees for the second phase of the Swadesh Darshan-1 scheme. Under this scheme, the work has been started to make 10 tourist spots attractive namely: Surmacherra Water Falls, Neermahal, Bharat-Bangladesh Maitri Udyan at Chottakhala in Belonia, Shahid Dhananjay Smriti Udyan at Avangachara in Jolaihari, Buddha Stupa at Boxanagar, Jampuihill, Unakoli, Bhubaneswari Temple, Gunabati Temple and Pilak.

The Secretary of the Tourism Department also infirmed in the meeting that under the central government’s PRASAD scheme, efforts have been made to put Mataban of Udaipur on the world tourism map through a multi-faceted plan. For this, the central government has sanctioned 37 crore 80 lakh rupees. The Secretary also informed that a plan has been taken to renovate Pushpabanta Palace and Durbar Hall to make it state-of-the-art Museum and Art Centre.

For this, the central government has already sanctioned 10 crore rupees. He informed that in 2019, the Tourism Department’s ‘Tourism Support Scheme was launched in the state in order to provide employment to the unemployed youth of the state.

Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, Principal Secretary of Revenue Department Puneet Agarwal, Secretary to the Chief Minister Pradip Kumar Chakraborty, Director of Tourism Department Tapan Das were present in the review meeting