CII panel may nudge Jharkhand to frame tourism policy

Industry body to set up a committee within a week to take up the matter with the state govt

A panel of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) wants Jharkhand to frame and execute a tourism policy and develop related infrastructure.

"Blessed with natural beauty, the mineral-rich Jharkhand has plenty of opportunities for development and employment generation in the tourism sector," said Prabhakar Singh, who was recently re-nominated as Convenor of CII, Jharkhand council's Tourism Panel.

Singh, also the President of Jharkhand Hoteliers' Association, said he will constitute a committee within a week to take up the matter with the Jharkhand government.

In fact, the CII panel had already recommended incorporation of its suggestions in the draft tourism policy, which is ready and waiting for the Cabinet approval, added Singh, who is the Secretary of Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FJCCI).

"We have identified some important tourist destinations in the state where infrastructural development needs to be taken up to woo tourists," he pointed out.

Earlier, in April, the Jamshedpur Hotelier Association had sponsored Chhau Festival in adjoining Seraikela-Kharswan district, with the sole objective to promote the dance form and attract tourists. The association had come out with a package, including free sight-seeing.

Singh admitted that occupancy in hotels in the steel city and surrounding areas fell by around 20-25 per cent last year due to slowdown in the mining sector.

However, things have started looking up in the current fiscal with the revival of mining activities.