GUWAHATI, Dec 28 � Assam will host two back-to-back international tourism events at Guwahati from January 18.
While the three-day International North East Tourism Mart jointly organised by the Centre and the State Government would begin from January 18 at Sarusajai Indoor Stadium, it will be followed by the 10th annual convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) which will begin on January 20 and continue till January 22.
The Mart would see participation by travel industry representatives of ASEAN and SAARC countries, besides delegates from the UK and the USA.
Tourism Ministers of all the North East States and West Bengal are also expected to take part in the Mart, which is taking place for the first time in the region.
�So far 80 foreign participants have already confirmed their participation. We are expecting around 150 foreign participants including diplomats, bureaucrats, tour operators and hoteliers,� said HS Das, Principal Secretary, State Tourism department while talking to mediapersons.
�We have planned three sessions of business meetings during the fair where various aspects of tourism would be discussed,� Das stated.
Moreover, the 10th annual convention of the ATOAI would begin from January 20 afternoon at the same venue.
ATOAI representatives who were here in Guwahati billed North East as the next chapter of Tourism in India.
�The last decade belonged to Gujarat and this decade would focus North East as the new chapter of Tourism in India. New and innovative ideas would be discussed in the tourism sector to attract more domestic and international arrivals,� said Sanjay Basu, convention chairman, Association of Adventure Tour Operators of India.
State Tourism Minister Chandan Brahma informed that the estimated budget for both the events would be around Rs 7 crore.
Managing Director, Assam Tourism Development Corporation, Anurag Singh and Maneswar Brahma, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism were also present on the occasion.
