JORHAT, Feb 16 � �Jorhat is going to be the hub of tourists, both from the country and abroad as it is the central town from which the natural, cultural and historical hotspots of upper Assam can be accessed easily�, said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi after laying the foundation stone of the �Institute of Hotel Management� at Cinnamora here on Sunday. He further stated that the Institute of Hotel Management would broaden the scope of education in the region. �Last year, the number of tourists to the State touched 36 lakh�, he added.
Addressing the public in the function, Hemoprabha Saikia, chairperson, Assam Tourism Development Corporation Ltd said, �We should apply our skills to present the natural beauty of the land in an attractive way in front of the tourists to increase their number�. She further added that the Institute of Hotel Management would suffice the need of skilled manpower in the hospitality sector.
It may be mentioned here that the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India under the scheme �Financial Assistance to IHMs� has sanctioned a project during 2009-2010 for setting up the Institute of Hotel Management at Jorhat. The total cost of the project will be Rs 12 crore. Designed by Taski Associate, the project is going to be executed by Assam Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.
The institute is going to offer courses like B Sc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration, PG diploma in Accommodation, Operation and Management, trade diploma course in Food and Beverage Service, trade diploma course in Food Production, Trade Diploma Course in Bakery and Confectionery, Trade Diploma Course in House Keeping and Trade Diploma Course in Front Office.
Rockybul Hussain, Minister for Tourism and Forest, Govt of Assam and Rana Goswami, MLA , Jorhat addressed the public on the occasion. Deva Bora, press adviser to CM, Membor Gogoi, MLA, Teok LAC, Rupjyoti Kurmi, MLA, Mariani LAC, Monalisa Goswami, Director, Assam Tourism Development Corporation, and Dipak Kumar Goswami, Managing Director, Assam Tourism Development Corporation were also present in the function.
The CM along with Rockybul Hussain, Minister for Tourism and Forest and Hemoprobha Saikia, chairperson, Assam Tourism Development Corporation visited Lachit Maidam at Holoongapar here and addressed a meeting. Gogoi in his speech announced that a national level award would be conferred every year in the name of Lachit Borphukan. He also inaugurated the project �Lachit Maidam Unnayan Prakalpa�. In the first step of the project, an auditorium would be constructed in the campus of Lachit Maidam costing Rs 19 lakh, Rockybul Hussain said.
�A statue of Lachit Borphukan, the great commander of Assam will be established in the middle of the Brahamaputra at Karmanasha near Umananda�, the Chief Minister stated.