AGARTALA, Jan 29 - The Tripura Government has adopted a new tourism policy with special emphasis on religious tourism, tea tourism and eco-tourism to promote the State in a big way.
Briefing media persons on the new policy, Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath said that tourism is the priority sector for the State Government as it is a revenue multiplier.
�The Tourism Development Corporation was launched in 2008 and a separate department for tourism was created in 2013, but there has been no progress in this sector. We are trying to reverse this trend and ensure growth of this sector,� Nath said here today.
The State Cabinet has decided to approach the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to get Unakoti, a hidden treasure of spiritual tourism in the State, listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The splendid rock works at Unakoti near Dharmanagar subdivision are under the protection of the ASI.
�Tripura will find a place on the global tourism map if Unakoti gets the World Heritage Site tag. We will shortly take up the matter with the ASI authorities,� he said.
Nath said that an increase in tourist flow would introduce the rich cultural heritage of the State to the world, which would be beneficial for the State in multiple sectors like trade and commerce.
The new tourism policy will ensure coordinated development of the tourism sector in a bid to attract domestic as well as foreign tourists.
Nath asserted that after the new Government came to power in March 2018, there has been a growth in the State�s tourism sector.
Giving statistical data, Nath said that in 2017-2018, altogether 4,83,488 tourists visited Tripura, but the footfall grew in 2018-2019 with 5,29,879 tourists visiting the State.
In 2019-2020, 3,97,202 tourists visited the State up to November and this year�s final figure will surely cross the previous year�s number. There has been an increase in the number of foreign tourists also.
�Bangladesh being the closest neighbour, most of the foreign tourists to Tripura come from that country. But European countries and the USA also contribute to the tourist inflow. We are trying to ensure faster growth in the number of foreign tourists arriving in Tripura,� he said.
Nath further pointed out that tourism in Tripura is still unorganised. �However, the new policy will bring a lot of change to promote sustainable tourism in the State. We want to make Tripura a preferred tourist destination and all efforts are being made in this direction,� he stated.
The Central Government is providing funds for development of tourist destinations under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
�The Government hopes that the State will get additional funds for tourism development, besides its own budgetary allocation. This time outlay for tourism will be increased in the State budget,� he added.
