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Assam as safe as any other place, asserts Himanta

By STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Feb 4 - State Tourism Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that Assam was as safe as any other place in the world but misinformation and the consequent wrong perceptions was hindering its tourism growth.

In his address at the sectoral session on Assam�s tourism prospects, Sarma called for �correction of misleading data� on the Union Home Ministry�s website for projecting a better image of Assam as an ideal destination.

�The Home Ministry data that says that thousands of kidnapping cases are taking place in Assam is false. Actually, the data comprises mostly of elopement cases concerning young boys and girls, and in a vast majority of the cases, the families later reconcile with them even though initially a kidnapping case is lodged with police.

�But the reality is not reflected in the official data and it sends out a wrong message that kidnapping for ransom is happening in Assam � something that deters prospective tourists as well as investors. This needs correction. Assam is a most peaceful State and insurgency is a thing of the past,� he said.

Underscoring the need for developing new tourist attractions, Sarma said that lush green tea gardens situated on picturesque locales such as those along the undulated Indo-Bhutan border terrain having airstrips and helipads could emerge as an exciting new product for tourists.

�This is an area left neglected till date. If you blend it with local cultures, that will be an exciting proposition. Tata and other tea majors have many such tea estates. This new vista needs to be explored,� he said.

The minister assured prospective investors that the State government was open to any modification on the new tourism policy based on the specific needs of the investors.

He also expressed confidence that the thrust accorded under the Act East Policy to enhance bilateral ties with the neighbouring countries would boost tourism in Assam.

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