Sunday, June 1, 2008

Tripura to harness tourism potential

Agartala, Jun 1 : The Tripura government is planning to launch a tourism development corporation to harness the “immense tourism potential” of the state and the process is likely to begin by separating the tourism ministry from information and culture.

A final decision is likely to be taken soon.

“The matter is being seriously discussed at appropriate level of the government but a final decision will emerge after the matter is examined thoroughly,” official sources in the tourism department said.Sources said the withdrawal of the restricted area permit for foreigners in 1990 had created opportunities for tourism in Tripura along with other states of the region, but the full potential has not been realised because of administrative and other related problems.

“Tripura has got lot of exciting tourist spots like the Ujjayanta Palace, abode of former princely rulers of the state, great Saivite sculptural site in Unakoti hills of North Tripura, exquisite rock-cut images in Debtamura hills and Mata Tripureshwari temple. The Hindu-Buddhist archaeological site at Pilak in South Tripura and the lake palace, Neermahal, in West Tripura also have great potential to attract tourists. But the tourist inflow has not been upto the expected level despite the marginal increase in revenue every year,” sources said.

Tripura is home to the extremely rare species of the spectacled monkey, which is found only in Kampuchea.

“All this should have spurred the growth in tourism industry but this has not come about mainly because of lack of administrative care and co-ordination though till a few years ago insurgency was a great disincentive for tourism,” sources said.

After an official review meeting of the performance of the tourism department, the government has come to the conclusion that launching a corporation and separating the tourism department from the information and culture department would spur the growth of this sector.

“What is being examined now is the resource position. A a final decision will be taken by October this year and central assistance will be sought,” sources said.

They added that the sprawling 42 square km Dumbur lake would be dredged to increase its depth so that parts of it could be used for building tourist huts on the islands.

Telegraph India

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