By IANS
New Delhi : The ministry for the development of the north-east region (DoNER) Wednesday urged government employees, entitled to leave travel concession (LTC) facility, to include the northeastern states in their itinerary.
The move is a significant step to generate income and help in the development process of the cash-starved region.
The ministry will soon send its proposal to the union cabinet for its approval to urge the government employees to visit the eight northeast states Sikkim, Tripura, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur.
In a national conclave held at Vigyan Bhavan here, about 300 delegates representing the states, various central government departments and tour operators deliberated on the proposal.
DoNER Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer said: “There are hundreds of thousands of central government employees who avail the LTC every year. Even if 35,000 of them visit the region, it would give a huge boost to the tourism sector there.”
He allayed the perceptions about the region being unsafe.
“The fact is that a vast swathe of the region is not merely free from any extremist related activity but is among the most peaceful places in the country,” he said.
“This fact has to be highlighted not just by the governments but also by the travel industry and the media,” Aiyar added.
The conclave was organised as a sequel to the special summit of the North Eastern council on tourism, which was held in April 2007.
The minister added that recent years have seen a significant improvement in road, rail and air connectivity to the region. This process is being intensified to make travel to the region fast and hassle free.
The ministry is also exploring ways to provide incentives to LTC travellers to visit the region in consultation with the other central ministries concerned.
States representatives as well as ministry of tourism made presentations during the conclave.
Indian Railways Catering and Travel Corp. (IRCTC) and Air India would also provide special packages and schemes for the tourists.
A number of new measures and incentives are also being planned in coordination with the states and the hospitality industry.
The Northeast Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy 2007, provides a host of concessions to industry, which have, for the first time, been extended to tourism sector.
These should encourage more and more private entrepreneurs to invest in the development of tourist facilities so that the region can get its due share in this fast growing sector.
The development of the tourism sector will benefit people of the region through employment opportunities.
An exhibition was also organised by the state and central ministries covering all aspects of tourism in the region.