Centre's move to boost tourism in NE

ITANAGAR, March 1: Centre has given special attention for the development and promotion of tourism in Northeastern region to solve the unemployment problems, according to Director General of Tourism, Atul Sinha, reports UNI. Talking to newspersons at Roing, in Dibang valley district of Arunachal Pradesh recently, Sinha said "Brahmaputra Darshan festival" was organised for this purpose. "Tourism sector will not only generate employment opportunities to the educated youths of the region, it will also boost the economy of the region," he commented. Sinha said infrastructure was the real bottleneck in the region and it would have to be overcome jointly by the Centre and state governments. The natural beauty, its green mountain, rivers, landscape and colourful people of north eastern region were ideal attraction for the tourist, provided infrastructure was developed, he said. After Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan, Kerala had also entered the tourism map of India due to its infrastructural facilities, Sinha said. Centre would provide all possible help to the Northeast to develop its infrastructure facilities, he said. Meanwhile, the three-day Brahmaputra Darshan festival showcasing local tradition and culture and promoting tourism concluded at Roing recently. Union Home Minister LK Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes and Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar attended the festival besides state Governor Arvind Dave and Chief Minister Mukut Mithi. Several Union Government officials, including Director General of Tourism Atul Sinha and Additional Secretary (Home), NE region, PD Shenoy were also present on the occasion.