GUWAHATI, Dec 18 ? Despite the recent string of bomb blasts, the number of tourists visiting the State could witness a gradual rise this winter. According to sources in several tour and travel agencies, both enquiries and bookings are on an upward curve.
The Managing Director of Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), Kamal Lochan Goswami, speaking to this reporter, acknowledged that tourists are increasingly choosing Assam as their destination. ?Its very encouraging, that we are getting queries from so many prospective tourists this season.?
According to Goswami, one reason for the increasing number of tourists to Assam is the Kaziranga National Park attracting a lot of attention. ?Our resort in Kaziranga is booked till December 31, and it would possibly extend to April.? The ATDC?s cottages in Bhalukpong have also drawn a steady flow of tourists, he added.
The ATDC has meanwhile come up with new packages for tourists, which include bus tour of Guwahati city, conducted tour of Shillong, and a circuit that includes conducted tour of Kaziranga National Park, along with Tezpur. According to ATDC sources, almost all the tours have found positive response from tourists due to their reasonable pricing, and convenience.
The excitement over Kaziranga is also evident from the fact that nearby resorts expect full occupancy around February 11 to 17, when the National Park celebrates its centenary. ?All our 18 rooms, and one cottage are fully booked near that time, said Kamini Baruah of Wild Grass Resort. While, this is a heartening development to the tour agencies, tourists would have to face a tough time if alternative accommodation is not made available during the centenary celebrations.
The ITDC-owned Brahmaputra Ashok hotel in Guwahati is also playing host to a large number of tourists this season. A R Bera, of the ITDC revealed that Kaziranga, Shillong-Cherapunjee circuit, and Arunachal Pradesh are the major draws for foreign as well as domestic tourists.
?While Kaziranga is a favourite for the great majority of tourists, we have been getting a lot of queries for places like Zero and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.? In the near future Arunachal could certainly have a greater number of tourists, he added. A source in the ITDC further stated that the recent bomb blasts have not affected the flow of tourists to the State. ?It?s a positive sign that tourists have not stopped coming. Therefore, all steps should be taken to ensure their safety and security,? he said.
However, the increasing number of tourists has also raised some issues of concern. There seems to be a vacuum when it comes to providing information about Assam as a tourist destination in the national and international level. A private tour operator was of the view that concerted action by the government agencies and tour-operators is a must if Assam is to get a larger share of the tourists visiting India.
He also felt that there was a pressing need for well-trained guides to cater to the needs of tourists. ?Like goodwill ambassadors, an informed guide can help highlight the salient features of the region, which can ultimately bring in more tourists.?
A positive development this season is tapping the potential of river tourism in Assam. The cruise cum excursion facilitated by MV Charaidew has become a big hit with foreigners. The vessel owned by the Assam Bengal Navigation Company takes tourists to, Dhubri, Nematigahat, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Sualkuchi, Majuli, Kaziranaga, Bishwanath Ghat, Silghat, Tezpur, Orang National Park, Guwahati, Sulakuchi, Hajo, Manas, etc., in a seven-day circuit.
At present, the vessel is fully booked, and most of the tourists are foreigners, said Sanjay Thakur of Jungle Travels, a leading tour operator. ?River tourism, would not only introduce a newer mode of tourism, but it would also help expand tourism infrastructure like hotels, and restaurants, besides putting new sites in the tourist map,? he maintained.