SHILLONG, April 10 — The two-day North East Tourism Summit here today advocated adoption of a joint action plan by the governments of the North Eastern states and private operators to promote tourism which it said will not only bring development but also restore peace in the region. Inaugurating the summit at Hotel Polo Tours here this inmorning, Assam Governor and Chairman of the North Eastern Council (NEC), Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha, set the tone of the Summit saying a concrete plan comprising short-term and long-term measures to promote tourism in the region is being evolved.
Speaking of the unlimited tourism potentials of the region, Sinha identified some obstacles which have prevented the North East from tapping the potentials. “We need to break the mind-set of the people of being isolated which has been perpetuated since the British days”, he said. The lack of infrastructure and insurgency have also contributed to a large measure for the lack of development in the tourism sector in the region, Governor Sinha pointed out.
“Both peace and development must go hand in hand”, he asserted rejecting the notion that peace has to precede development. He also said ‘Tourism in the NE will promote national integration besides spurring economic development’, adding that the Union Tourism Minister Jagmohan appreciated this point and was willing to provide support. The Summit, held for the second time, is being jointly organised by the North Eastern Council and the Association of Tour Operators of North East India (ATONEI). The Summit was held in Guwahati in October 1999. The objective of the Shillong Summit is to chart a “road map’ for the development of tourism in the region, as stated by NEC Adviser, Banking, Industries and Tourism.
Government officials of the NE states, hoteliers and tour operators from the region and outside are participating in the Summit. President, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India, Jyoti Kapoor, highlighted the need to address the issues of connectivity, infrastructure and tax regime in order to tap the unlimited potentials of tourism in the NE. ‘Tourism can change the face of North East,’ he said.
IS Wahi, President, Association of Tour Operators of India and Laeta Umbrey, president, ATONEI also spoke in the inaugural session. A video presentation covering various aspects like tourism potential, limitations and solutions thereto was given by Manoj Jalan of North Eastern Chamber of Commerce and Industries.