GUWAHATI, March 22 � In order to woo more tourists, Assam Government plans to create a tourist circuit comprising Kaziranga National Park and Manas Tiger Reserve at a cost of Rs 50 crore, reports PTI.
The Centre has agreed to the proposal for creation of the tourist circuit, officials said here.
At present tourists find it difficult to include the Kaziranga forest and the Manas tiger reserve in their itinerary as the distance between the two is an energy-sapping 350 km. They can, at best, visit only one spot at a time.
Now, officials said, with the creation of the tourist circuit, tourists would be provided with food and lodging along the way as well as easy transportation facilities.
Another spot being groomed for tourists is the picturesque hill station of Haflong in the North Cachar Hills district. The project envisages development of eco-adventure tourism destinations along with a helipad.
Also in the pipeline is a cultural heritage circuit covering Sarthebari, Patbausi, Barpeta, Konora, Bahbor and Sorbhog which are distinguished by their ethnic footprint.
The government�s efforts will be supplemented by the construction of a five-star hotel in Guwahati, the city�s first, by the Tatas, the foundation stone of which was recently laid by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in the presence of Tata group chairman Ratan Tata.
Two more five-star hotels are under consideration while the Centre has already sanctioned a national level institute of hotel management at Jorhat and a food-craft institute in Samuguri of Nagaon district which are expected to be operational in the current financial year.
Another major project the state has undertaken at a cost of approximately Rs 45 crore is the creation of rest rooms and other tourist facilities along national highways. The project will encompass national highways 31, 37 and 52 in the first phase.
The government has planned to launch a massive promotional campaign both at the domestic and international level in 2010-11 through the electronic media.
Noted Assamese film director Jahnu Barua has been entrusted with the task of developing the theme of the campaign, officials said.
