GUWAHATI, March 21 - Travel and tourism industry representatives have come up with wide-ranging suggestions to boost tourism in Dima Hasao district.
A discussion was organised here on Monday by Guwahati-based research think-tank Centre for Development and Peace Studies (CDPS) as part of an initiative by the Department of Tourism, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, to come up with a Tourism Vision Document for the district.
More than 30 representatives, that included hoteliers, tour operators, adventure tourism professionals, and academics from hotel management institutes, attended the meeting. Director of Assam Tourism, Palash Barooah, and officials of India Tourism, also attended the meeting.
Addressing the gathering, Kulendra Daulagupu, executive member of Tourism, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, spoke about the problems and prospects in developing tourism in Dima Hasao. He said that picturesque Dima Hasao has three of Assam�s highest peaks, abundant flora and fauna, diverse ethnic groups, waterfalls as well as megalithic remains of the past. He urged entrepreneurs to invest in the tourism sector in Dima Hasao, which can act as the engine of growth in the otherwise underdeveloped district.
Some of the suggestions from the participants included organising biking tours to the district, organising calendar events so that tourists can plan their itinerary well in advance and training local people in areas like hospitality, home-stays, adventure tourism and as tour guides. The participants also stressed on the need for sensitisation of police to make them tourist-friendly.
CDPS will hold a similar consultative meeting at Haflong next month to be attended by various local stakeholders and Council and district authorities.
