GUWAHATI, March 27 – With Government of India showing increasing interest in development of tourism in the State and the region, it is time for the State Government to entrust management of this sector to professionals with proven track record and having capability to involve the masses and private entrepreneurs in developing tourism facilities. There is no denying the fact that vested nexus of politicians, contractors and bureaucrats has been the bane for the tourism sector in the State taking advantage of the inconsistent efforts of the State Government in respect of this potent sector.
However, the last three years has witnessed a change for the better in the second in the State with public and more and more private entrepreneurs responding to the effort made by Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) to involve mass participation in the sector so that the burden on the cash-strapped State Government is lessened to a greater extent. The ATDC has adopted the policy of acting as a catalyst and facilitator in its bid to promote private sector participation which is a global phenomenon, in the sector.
Noticing the gradual increase of tourists flow to the State as well as the region thanks to the efforts of a new generation of entrepreneurs, the Government of India has identified an integrated tourism circuit in the region which will focus on eco-tourism. The circuit is along Shillong-Guwahati-Kaziranga-Tezpur-Bhalukpung-Tawang-Majuli-Sivasagar-Kohima. Already the State Government has submitted a list of 22 projects covering Assam part of the circuit with a total fund requirement of Rs 71.06 crore along with the infrastructure projects in all important tourist spots along the circuit. The Ministry of Tourism has entrusted the HUDCO to prepare the master plan for the North East Circuit.
Meanwhile, under the rural tourism sector, the Government of India has asked the State Government to furnish one proposal for promotion of rural tourism to showcase rural life, culture and heritage of the State as a pilot project. The Government of India will provide maximum Rs 50 lakh for such a project. A highly-place source in the ATDC informed that under this scheme a detail project for consideration has been submitted for development of a project at Phumen Ingti Village near Kaziranga National Park.
Moreover, the Government of India is going to provide Rs 5 crore to the State Tourism under Integrated Product, Infrastructure and Destination Development scheme under which the State will have to identify one major tourism destinations or product for development. The ATDC source informed that the State Government had submitted a detailed project report for Integrated Development of Heritage and Eco-tourism at Majuli under this scheme. The project is expected to be sanctioned within March 31, 2003.
In the meantime the Government of India sanctioned four projects for development of tourism in Assam during the year 2002-03 namely : Brahmaputra River Front Development at Guwahati (Rs 30 lakh), Development of Ethnic Village at Bhalukpung (Rs 40 lakh), camping site at Kohora range in Kaziranga (Rs 1.42 crore) and Road Signages of Assam (Rs 25 lakh). The eco-tourism projects at Bhalukpung and Manas have been sanctioned by the Government of India at a cost of Rs 90 lakh each during the last financial year. The State Forest Department has been requested to provide suitable land for the project which is proposed to be implemented, developed and managed with private sector participation.
Several other important projects including Amusement Park at Guwahati, Ropeway Project at Kamakhya, Luxury Cruise vessel project between Kaziranga and Guwahati, International Trade and Tourism Centre at Paltanbazar here are in various stages of implementation. In this backdrop, it is obvious that the year ahead is important for the State tourism with Government of India realising the need to provide the necessary financial assistance to complete these projects.
With the money set to flow from New Delhi, many a vested interest circles are already in work to influence the policymakers to their favour in order to make the hay at the expense of the State which has been the practice for years barring a few years of real activities in this sector of late. Sources informed that any move by the Government to put a wrong person in key positions in the tourism sector will prove detrimental at this point when the stage is set for the tourism sector to take off thanks to the positive response from the Centre.