Minister urges NE states to utilise funds for tourism

Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Sripad Naik today urged all Northeastern states to utilise the funds sanctioned by the Centre for promoting tourism in the region, which he said is an unexplored paradise.
An amount of Rs 3,000 crore was sanctioned by the Centre for developing and improving all national highways and roads which are important infrastructures for creating an impact on the development of tourism and trade, said Naik at the third International Tourism Mart- 2014 held here.
Stating that tourism is looked at as a game changer for the economy, Naik said, "The Centre is trying to liberate schemes for tapping the maximum potential of tourism in the country, including the Northeast region."

Speaking on the occasion Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma emphasised on the need to develop a mechanism to ensure constant inflow of tourists to the Northeast region.
He said the state government is also making efforts to project Meghalaya as an ideal tourist destination by creating diverse exclusive and unique products to lure tourists.
He said about 20,000 acres of land is in the process of being converted into organic farms by the Agriculture Department, which he said will offer tourists coming to the state unique "access" to food produce from these farms.
According to the Chief Minister, directions will also be given to hotels to serve food sourced from these organic farms.