Committed to develop tourism in northeast India: Taj Hotels

Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, India's leading luxury hotel chain owned by the Tata Group, on Wednesday affirmed its commitment to the development of the hotel and tourism sector in the northeast region.

"We remain very committed to the development of the hotel and tourism industry in Assam and beyond in the northeast for we know the future lies to our east.

"We know we must develop the infrastructure in order to develop the people and human capital of Assam and the northeast. We are duty bound to do that," Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, Rakesh Sarna said here.

Speaking at the launch of the Vivanta by Taj here, Tata Group chairman Cyrus P. Mistry hoped the hotel would boost tourism in Assam and the region.

"It will spur tourism in the region: in Assam, in other parts of the northeast and neighbouring countries," Mistry said.

India's northeast, said Mistry, "will also be a natural gateway for us and other Indian business to access key markets with which India is building long-term relationships: Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar and China".

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi formally opened the hotel by unveiling a plaque in the presence of Mistry and Sarna.

Gogoi hoped Assam would emerge as the hub of not only the northeast India but also of the south Asian countries.

"The message to the whole world is peace has returned to Assam... stability has returned to Assam. We want to be the hub of not only northeast India but also southeast Asian countries. There is a lot of potential. This Guwahati is definitely going to be the hub of whole of southeast Asian countries," he said.

Equipped with 150 guestrooms, the hotel's main pavilion is based on the famed Kamakhya temple in Guwahati while the motifs represent Assam's strong tradition of woven crafts.