Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh tourism Minister Nakap Nalo has called for concerted efforts from all the stakeholders for successful implementation of tourism programmes and policies in the state.
Addressing an interaction programme on ‘Restarting tourism activities post pandemic’ with various tourism stakeholders including tour operators, homestay owners, officials and others at the State Food Craft Institute here on Friday, Nalo said “though the Covid-19 pandemic has hit the tourism industry all over the world, Arunachal need to build up a strong team to restart the tourism activities in full swing.”
The minister also suggested building permanent road maps to implement successful tourism projects in the coming days.
While regretting the past actions of the department for constructing hundreds of useless assets which have become a burden and liability for the state government, he encouraged the tour operators to take over such non-functional assets for tourism.
The government will prefer lessees with people from tourism background, he said.
The minister also suggested organising workshops and training for tour operators and guides.
Nampong MLA and advisor to tourism minister Laisam Simai asked the people to drop the misconception of building tourism infrastructures like constructing lodges, way side amenities, etc., and asked them to instead focus on human resource development and other result oriented activities.
Informing that the state has a lot of resources to be sold to the outside world, he suggested healthy and positive competition among the tour operators.
While directing the tourism officials to be more proactive, he called for investing and focusing in potential areas instead of investing everywhere.
Tourism secretary Sadhana Deori suggested conducting a familiarization tour for tour operators to NE states and also suggested putting more leverage on places which are yet to be explored.
She also encouraged the new tour operators to curate new tour packages starting from the Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts to Kra-Daadi.
Emphasizing the security of the tourists as utmost important, the secretary also asked the tour operator to be prepared for any untoward incidents.
Tourism deputy director Bengia Manna Sonam suggested conducting district tourism officers’ meetings on a zonal basis so that they can take part in developmental activities.
She also suggested conducting a familiarization tour for tour operators, influencers and bloggers in NE states.
Sonam further emphasized on holding a coordination meeting with the line departments like department of art and culture, environment and forest and research for streamlining tourist products in tourist interest places within the state.
Arunachal Pradesh Tour Operator president John Panye called for inclusion of tourism stakeholders in the District Tourism Promotion Council for its effective functioning.
It is high time to prepare a new road map to make Arunachal the best tourist destination of the world, Panye said, suggesting destination promotion of places which have less endorsement.
Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) North-East Chapter chairman Oken Tayeng spoke on preparedness of security and safety to avoid any eventualities, especially in adventure activities.
He also suggested balancing tourism promotion activities in every part of the state.
APTOA adviser Tsering Wange called for promotion of tourism destinations through social media platforms like facebook, YouTube, etc.
