By IANS
Agartala : A five-day cultural festival began here Friday with the eight north-eastern states taking part in the carnival aimed at promoting tourism in the region.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the Northeast India Tourism Festival where a number of leading tour operators, officials of the union tourism ministry and the eight northeastern states, including Sikkim, participated.
Various cultural troupes from the region are taking part in the event.
“The northeast, including Sikkim, is a region endowed with diverse tourist attractions having its own distinct features,” said Nepal Sinha, Tripura’s information and tourism commissioner.
“The rich natural beauty and the exotic flora and fauna of the area are invaluable resources for the development of eco-tourism,” said Sinha.
West Bengal Tourism Minister Manabendra Mukherjee was also present at the inaugural function. The festival, sponsored by the union tourism ministry, would hold a series of seminars, besides cultural and traditional fashion shows.
“The central government has taken keen interest in the development of tourism infrastructure in the northeast,” said another official.
“The Himalayan range of Arunachal Pradesh with its snow-capped mountains, the world’s highest rainfall region of Sohra (Cherrapunjee) in Meghalaya, the one-horned rhino at Kaziranga and Manas, the unique phenomenon of birds committing suicide in the Jatinga hills are some of the diverse attractions for nature lovers,” a promotional pamphlet read.