The Department of Tourism (DoT) of the State has started taking measures to provide domestic and international tourists clean and tidy vacation on Christmas this year and thereafter. Tourism offcials said that additional manpower has been deployed at every tourism spot under the department to keep places as clean as desirable, especially from December 25 to January 15 next year.
“We are deploying additional manpower for cleanliness at every tourist spot as per requirement. Famous and attractive tourist spots which always attract more tourists during Christmas and January 15 next year like Hundru, Jonha, Sita, Panchghagh, Hirni and other waterfalls have been provided at least five additional workers each to keep those places clean and tidy,” said Tourism Director Prasad Krishna Wagmare on Thursday.
The department has also deployed additional Paryatak Mitras (tourism friends) at various spots. Wagmare said that there were some 100 tourist friends active in any season in the State. “This strength is being increased between 20-25 per cent for vacation season starting from December 25 on Christmas, which will continue till January 2017 next year,” said Wagmare. He also said that additional dustbins were being installed apart from educative slogans around.
As per data from Union Tourism Ministry, Jharkhand witnessed an increase of over whopping 385 per cent in foreign tourist inflow between 2012 and 2014. However, the State couldn’t earn much respect among tourists only due to several reasons including the unhygienic surroundings of its tourist spots.
General Manager in Tourism Department Rajeev Ranjan admitted that the rating of tourist spots was not as department kept fighting for. “I admit that the status quo of our tourist spots in terms of cleanliness must be lifted as soon as possible. And I must assure that tourists visiting to any of the spots under the department will witness a completely different tourist spot this time on and after Christmas. We have deployed additional manpower to keep places clean,” said Ranjan.
Despite Chief Minister Raghubar Das expressing his ambitious plans to bring Jharkhand on global tourist map, overall infrastructure at tourist destinations have remained abysmally poor. Many of the tourist destinations have not been provided with basic amenities like toilets and drinking water. “We are aware of all these facts. And it’s not that we are doing nothing. You will see a number of new initiatives being taken in next year budget,” Ranjan opined.
At the same time, he also said that tourists were also expected to help keep spots clean. “With all due respect to tourists, some among them always appear to give a damn to any kind of cleanliness. I strongly believe that tourists also need to understand that they were not outsiders, but a part of same nature and keeping a clean place clean was their duty as well,” said Ranjan.