Golf-tourism - the next big date in Assam tourist calendar

Assam wants to utilise the golf courses for setting up a golf circuit in the state.

"We have 22 golf courses, which is a big number.The golf courses are located mostly in tea gardens. So, we want to have a tie-up with the tea garden owners," Managing Director of tourism department Anurag Singh said.

Singh said that his department had already conducted a study with a consultant specialising in golf courses and had a preliminary discussion with tea garden owners.

"The consultant has given a suggestion that we need to go in for some kind of public-private partnership with the tea garden owners under a revenue sharing model," he said.

He regretted that while the golf courses existed for decades, many of the tea gardens were not managing them properly or utilising their potential.

As per the proposal, the state government and the tourism department will invest in developing the golf courses, while the maintenance work will be carried out by tea garden owners.

Side by side with golf-tourism, tea tourism would also get a boost as a spin-off, Singh hoped.

Singh said plans were afoot to set up new golf resort at Chandrapur, near Guwahati. MORE