As part of its ‘Look North-East’ policy, the Centre is planning to have some G20 meetings in the region and picturesque Aizawl, the capital of hilly State Mizoram, with ample natural beauty and a deep-rooted sense of culture and tradition, will host one of them. The capitals of the other seven northeastern States are also on the radar for the meet.
To further boost tourism, as many as 100 viewpoints will be constructed along highways across the country, starting with nine in Mizoram, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said here while addressing the three-day inaugural session of the International Tourism Mart (ITM) 2022 in the State capital on Thursday. Once a remote village used as a British army fort, Aizawl is now a tourist's delight.
The ITMs are organized in the North-Eastern States on a rotation basis. Mizoram is hosting this Mart for the first time with much fanfare and has a line of events to showcase its tourism potential to enhance tourists’ footfalls. The earlier editions of this mart have been held in Guwahati, Tawang, Shillong, Gangtok, Agartala, Imphal and Kohima.
Reddy also shared details of steps being taken by the Centre to improve the connectivity of the region to further boost tourism, which is one of the major sources of livelihood and development in the region.
In this connection, a tourism task force for the Northeast region with the help of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and other ministries is in the offing.
“India will also hold an investors’ conclave in 2023 to promote global investments and MICE tourism into the tourism sector. Our focus will be to increase the global investments not only in the hospitality industry but to also promote Theme parks and entertainment centres, adventure tourism, cruise tourism, wellness tourism, winter tourism etc,” Reddy said.
“Also, India will be soon presiding over the G20 from December 2022 to November 2023. We will host over 200 meetings across 55 cities during this period.
“These meetings are also proposed to be held in several states of the northeast including Aizawl,” he said, adding that among the G20 member countries, China, Mexico, India, South Africa and Indonesia are projected to expand their tourism industry post-COVID.
“With our presidency, we definitely can stride ahead of these 4-5 countries to build the rightful place of India's tourism industry in the global arena. We must plan to showcase our North Eastern Cultural Richness while welcoming the world to our country. This International Tourism Mart 2022 will highlight the diverse tourist attractions and products offered in the 8 states.”
During the occasion, Reddy and the Chief Minister of Mizoram Zoramthanga jointly laid the foundation stone of the Aizawl Convention Center at Chite, PRASHAD Project in Mizoram and two Bamboo Link Roads.”
Earlier talking to reporters, he said that the Union Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of DoNER and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways are developing 100 view-points in the North East region. 22 viewpoints have been taken up for development at a cost of 49 crores while in Mizoram, 9 viewpoints have been taken up for development at the cost of 12.78 crores.
Reddy also shared that Border Roads Organisation under the Union Defence Ministry has taken the initiative of providing basic amenities to tourists visiting scenic locations by building Border roads organisation cafes, with 25 proposed in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur, Nagaland and Assam.
As a part of its development and tourism promotion strategy, the Centre has sanctioned 16 projects worth Rs 1337 crore in the Northeast region of India.
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said that the State is nestled in the green hills---offering evergreen hills, dense bamboo jungles, lush green paddy fields and blue mountains.
While talking to The Pioneer on the sidelines of the event, Mizoram Tourism Minister Pu Robert Romawia Royte revealed as the State was the last one to be hit by Covid-pandemic in the region, its tourist footfall has been badly hit.
“However, now, being free of the Covid, we will soon catch up with the rest of the States,” he said highlighting that not only Mizoram is dotted with unexplored tourists hotspots but also has a high literacy rate, and has a large English speaking population that works in its favour.
Under the central scheme PRASHAD, Tourism Ministry has approved a project for the development of amenities for pilgrims, congregation area, and facilitation centre at Aizawl, Hangi Lunlen, Tlang- Prayer mountain, Khuangchera puk, Reiek peak and Khawruhlian. The cost is around Rs. 45 crores.
Union Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh said that a Task Force for tourism promotion in the North-East will be established soon.
He pointed out that the tourism sector accounts for a higher share of women’s employment and entrepreneurship as compared to the whole economy.
“Indian tourism industry contributes to around 4.7 per cent of the country's GDP and provides employment to around 31.8 million inhabitants.
“If tourism’s contribution is increased to 10 per cent of GDP in India, it can create 26 million new jobs. According to World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), an investment of Rs.10 lakh can generate 47.5 jobs as against 12.6 in manufacturing”, he added.
The three-day ITM event is being attended by North-eastern Tourism Ministers, senior officials of the North-eastern states, State governments, and heads of the tourism and hospitality associations.
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