GUWAHATI, July 19 � With a view to increasing tourist inflow, the State government has chalked out an ambitious plan for promoting Assam in other parts of the country as well as abroad with a number of campaigns and advertisements this financial year.
�There has been marked rise in inflow of domestic tourists to Assam since 2000 and the number of foreign tourists visiting the State has also grown. Our effort is to facilitate further growth in the sector so that the numbers rise even more,� said Anjan Chakraborty, Director of Tourism, here today on the sidelines of the 13th Tourism Fair.
He said the State will participate in a number of tourism fairs and conclaves in other parts of India, besides abroad, to help people in those places know about the major attractions in Assam that will participate in tourism fairs like ITB Berlin and WTM London.
�In addition, we are also undertaking marketing and advertising campaigns through the media, besides using hoardings in major metros across India. We want to let the people know what a good destination Assam is for travel and leisure,� Chakraborty said.
Regarding the 13th Tourism Fair, which got off at Hotel Vishwaratna here today, Chakraborty said the event will help both the State government and tourism and hospitality sector players in Assam exchange ideas with their counterparts from other States, besides helping people of Assam interact directly with tourism players from across the country.
The fair is being organized by Blue Eye India Pvt Ltd, with support from the tourism departments of Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Tour and travel operators from across India are attending the three-day event, which is being organised for the second time in the city.
�Our aim is to facilitate both business-to-business dialogue among sector players, besides allowing customers and travel enthusiasts here plan better for their trips outside,� Blue Eye India Director (Project) Subrata Bhowmick said.
Abhijit Dhar, resident manager of Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd, said people from the Northeast have started travelling outside the region in greater numbers during recent years.
Navdeep Singh Thapa, a senior official from the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, rued the fact that very few people from the Northeast visit the Himalayan State.
