ITANAGAR, Sept 28 - Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today hinted that the Himalayan state would re-open its doors for tourists after October next while following laid down COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Centre from time to time.
Attending the �Destination North East 2020� virtual programme, Khandu said the tourism sector has suffered a lot in the last six months due to the pandemic, thereby adversely affecting the livelihood of thousands, while also denting the state�s revenue collection.
�Tourism is a major source of revenue and employment. Keeping all considerations in mind, we will be re-opening the sector. If everything goes well, after October we will be open to visitors,� he said.
Khandu lauded the Union DoNER Ministry and the North Eastern Council (NEC) for organising the virtual festival and said it would boost tourism in the North East several notches.
While stressing that �connectivity� is the backbone of tourism, Khandu admitted the Centre�s focus on it. He said that in the last 6 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the North East has witnessed a paradigm shift in its infrastructure development.
�Thanks to Modiji�s love and concern towards the region, today we have railways, roads and airports. Several projects are under implementation, while several are in the pipeline. And now with a visionary and determined DoNER Minister in Dr Jitendra Singhji, we are sure to develop at par with the rest of the country,� he said.
Khandu complimented the �Act East� policy of the central government, which he claimed is ushering peace and infrastructural growth in the region - the much-needed ingredients for a flourishing tourism sector.
Endorsing Dr Jitendra Singh�s prediction that North East would be the next tourism hub of post-COVID India, Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh with its diversity � both of geographic and demographic profiles can become a centre of rural, cultural and adventure tourism.
�We are committed to preserve our culture while walking the path of development. Our focus therefore is on pushing for tourism while keeping our culture and environment well preserved,� he added.
The Chief Minister said one fine day this pandemic will end and a new era of tourism will begin in Arunachal Pradesh in particular and the North East in general.
Destination North East, a calendar event of the DoNER Ministry, is organised with an objective to taking the Northeastern region to other parts of the country. The theme of the event is �The Emerging Delightful Destinations� to showcase the region�s potential tourist destinations.
The four-day event was inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah in presence of the DoNER Minister and the chief ministers of all the eight Northeastern states, on Sunday.
