Shillong, Feb. 18: Sightseeing in the Northeast is set to get a facelift with several central and state government agencies joining hands to link conventional tourism with the newest form of tourism, geo-tourism.
The Geological Survey of India, Meghalaya State Electricity Board, North Eastern Power Corporation Ltd and directorate of tourism, Meghalaya, will work together to identify suitable sites for geological monuments.
?The idea is to survey sites of geological importance, which are found in abundance in the Northeast, and link them to conventional or what we call scenic tourism in these parts,? said state director of tourism Sakheel Ahmed. ?Places of geological importance like the Dawki fault, the caves and Barapani (Umiam) in Meghalaya will be covered,? he said.
To boost geo-tourism in the state, the organisers have planned a daylong workshop here tomorrow.
Meghalaya governor M.M. Jacob will inaugurate the workshop at 10 am. Meghalaya tourism minister T.C. Lyngdoh, chairman of Neepco, senior representatives of GSI and eminent geo-scientists of the country will attend the function.
Organisers of the event said over 75 geo-scientists from different organisations will present their work and recommendations for developing geo-tourist sites in the Northeast. Director-general of GSI P.C. Mandal will also be present at the discussions.
?Papers on select themes will be presented and recommendations of the geo-scientists discussed by a panel of experts. Some of the ideas would be developed so that tourists can improve their leisure trips with knowledge of cultural practices of the area,? said a tourism department official.