Agartala April 1: Tripura tourism sector will serve as the bedrock of an alternative economy in the coming days. State Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury made these remarks on Monday in the state assembly during a discussion on a private member’s resolution introduced by MLA Ranjit Das.
A Vision for Economic Growth: Tripura Tourism
The Minister said, the economic and social development of the local population will be fostered through this sector.
With financial support from both the central and state governments, the state’s tourism industry is being revamped. Within the next two years, the tourism sector in Tripura will be elevated to a significant level.
Private Members’s resolution
The resolution of MLA Ranjit Dad urged the Tripura government to “take necessary measures to ensure comprehensive facilities for tourists visiting every tourism center in the state, while also making these centers more visually appealing and attractive to domestic and international tourists.”
While presenting the resolution, MLA Ranjit Das emphasized the need to utilize the tourism industry more effectively to generate employment opportunities for the unemployed and urged greater care in preserving the beauty of tourist sites.
Overcoming Past Setbacks
During the discussion on the private member’s resolution, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said that the tourism in Tripura had not developed as expected due to the negative role of the previous government.
In support of his claim, Chowdhury said, st that time, approximately ₹22.91 crore allocated for tourism development under central schemes had to be returned.
Key Projects and initiatives
Currently, the state’s tourism budget stands at around ₹150 crore. Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has stressed that the tourism industry must be prioritized to propel India forward, the State Tourism Minister highlighted ongoing efforts.
He noted that development work at the Tripureshwari Devi Temple under the PRASAD scheme will be completed in the coming days.
Besides, ₹4.50 crore has been spent to construct infrastructure for 11 different services at the Bharat-Bangladesh Maitri Udyan in Chottakhola in the South Tripura.
A Light and Sound Show has been introduced at Ujjayanta Palace, and India’s longest laser show has been launched at Jagannath Dighi in Agartala. To further promote water tourism, 50 noiseless boats will be procured.
For the convenience of tourists, two state-of-the-art Armenia buses have already been purchased at a cost of ₹68 lakh.
Homestays and Revenue Surge
The state government will soon introduce a policy to make homestays more popular, with 40-50 homestays currently operational in the state.
Sushanta Chowdhury further informed the assembly that between 2013 and 2018, the number of domestic and international tourists visiting Tripura exceeded 20 lakh, generating revenue of ₹19.42 crore.
From 2018 to 2025, the number of tourists has risen to over 28 lakh, with revenue reaching ₹31.72 crore.
The minister emphasized that various measures are being taken to promote and expand the state’s tourism industry on the global stage. Following the discussion, the private member’s resolution was unanimously adopted by the assembly.
