The State Government has unveiled Tourism Policy for untapped destination Jharkhand. The policy has clearly defined roles of Government agencies, guidelines for tour operators and their regulations, roles of private operators and sops for promotion of the sector. Informing about the decision taken by the Cabinet on Tuesday, Tourism Secretary Avinash Kumar underlined the urge behind making the policy. “It has been thought that there is ample scope for the promotion of tourism in the State and if tapped Jharkhand can be instated on the world tourism map. The Government has approved a Tourism Policy, which would define various spectrums related to this like requirements, lacunas, finding best possible ways, role of different stakeholders, including Government machinery and desired infrastructure at local level,” said the Secretary flanked by Cabinet Secretary SK Satpathy.
The policy defined role of the Government as a facilitator for building infrastructure and identify potential areas such as religious, cultural, ecological, forest, adventure, rural, mining, conventional, tent tourism and youth hostel in different parts of the State. Apart from setting up standards, the policy would also attract private tour operators through joint venture run consultations and campaigns.
“locals would also be involved along with local police stations for providing friendly security and exchange of information. land Banks would be identified before making master plan for a particular tourist spot. Some authorities for places like Parasnath or Rajrappa would be given additional powers for focused development of the places,” added Avinash Kumar. The Government would also use information technology in a big way to provide information about travellers’ amenities thought a consorted webportal having information about dak-bungalows and guest houses and their reservation.
looking at the contribution coming from private sectors prominently in the endeavour, the policy also announces sops for investors in the form of relaxed luxury, entertainment, commercial, stamp duty, electrical cess, holding and road taxes. This apart, the private developers would be given subsidies in the form of capital for captive power generation, providing employment for SC/ST and women as special incentives.
“The Government would also form a dedicated Tourist Security Force, a high-level Tourism Development Board and strengthen and restructure existing Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation for its improvement. A regulatory act-Tourism Trade Facilitation Act-for hotelier, operators would also be framed and given licenses. Work would also be done to built a circuit involving neighbouring States having similar tourism potentials,” said the Secretary
Another decision the Cabinet took was to safeguard, conserve, protect and enrich the Maluti Temples of Dumka. “The Maluti Temples are important for our heritage which was getting deteriorated. There was urgent need to work for its protection and conservation for the future and the Government has decided to appoint Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD) on nomination basis. The trust having expertise in rural heritage has on its board eminent archeologists and is also working in other States. A MoU would be signed with ITRHD,” said Avinash Kumar.