Enewstime Desk
Agartala, January 28, 2020: The Council of Ministers of Government of Tripura gave nod to tourism policy. Moreover, State Cabinet gave approval for sending a proposal to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for declaring Unakoti as ‘World Heritage Site’. Education minister Ratanlal Nath said this in a press conference in Agartala after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Tourism Policy:
For the first time in the State, a definite policy has been formulated for developing tourism sector in the State. Speaking about the tourism policy, Ratan Lal Nath said, the policy was formulated to utilize tourism potentiality of the State and create livelihood options. He said, “The State Government is trying to promote State tourism at global level and Tripura possesses prospects of drawing global attention. Even as Tripura Tourism Development Corporation was set up in 2008, there was no tourism policy to promote this sector. The incumbent Government has given priority in developing the tourism sector as the tourism will help to transform the State into a self-reliant Tripura”
Further, he said that the policy had been formulated for five years and the policy stresses on religious tourism, heritage tourism, Eco-tourism, Tea tourism, Adventure tourism, ethnic tourism, border tourism etc. Besides, the tourism policy stressed on infrastructural issues including improving road transport system.
“The Policy will work on introducing Helicopter services as well as improving road connectivity for comfort of tourists. The policy will ensure adequate fooding and lodging facilities in tourists’ lodges”, the Minister said and added, tourism policy will also focus on campaign promoting Tripura as a tourist destination.
Unakoti as World Heritage Site:
Unakoti being the one of major tourists’ attractions, the State Government mooted the idea to initiate process for becoming a ‘World Heritage Site’. Speaking about this issue, Ratan Lal Nath said, the World Heritage Sites are being declared by the UNESCO and the proposal has to be sent through Archeological Survey of India (ASI). State Cabinet approved the proposal today.
He also presented information relating footfalls of tourists in last three years. The Minister said, “A total of 4, 83, 488 tourists including foreign nationals visited Tripura in 2017-18 and 5, 23, 579 tourists in 2018-19. In the current year, Tripura already registered footfalls of as many as 3, 77, 202 tourists till November and it is expected to cross 6 lakh,”
According to Nath, the maximum numbers of tourists come to Tripura from Bangladesh. Besides, the state records arrival of tourists from many other foreign countries like USA, UK, Canada, Hungary and Switzerland every year.
