HT Correspondent
KAZIRANGA, Sept 27: World Tourism Day was celebrated in Assam on Tuesday with a focus on attracting more visitors as the sector was taking off after a pandemic-induced lull.
The main celebration, organised by the Assam Government was held at Kaziranga National Park, while events to mark the occasion were also arranged across the state to promote the tourism sector of Assam and showcase Assam’s indigenous culture, nature and diversity under this year’s theme ‘Rethinking Tourism’.
The programme began with a cultural procession which took off at Forest Convention Ground, Kohora to BOC Point and back covering a distance of 1.5 km which was followed by a seminar on the theme ‘Rethinking Tourism’.
The chief guest of the event, minister, Tourism department, Govt. of Assam, Jayanta Mallabaruah, inaugurated a coffee table book ‘Anupam Assam’ and announced the Heritage Walks of Assam project.
The Tourism department officials were presented certificates and mementos for their outstanding contribution in the field of river tourism, travel writing, tourism promotion, homestay, wildlife conservation, and tourist guide. Awards were also distributed for short film competition, photography competition, and write-up competition.
On this occasion, minister Jayanta Mallabaruah addressed the gathering stating, “We need to understand that tourism is a major way to scale up our economy and everyone has to work collectively in this goal including people in this sector.”
He added, “We will also work to improve the efficiency of the workers here and provide them proper and best training.”
He further announced, “Rs 200 crore subsidy will be given to 100 tea gardens of Assam for the development of their heritage tea gardens and heritage bungalows.”
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Rajveer Hussain (OSD Assam Tourism) followed by a cultural programme which represented various dance forms of Assam including Bihu, Sattriya, Jhumur, etc.
Our Kokrajhar correspondent adds: Along with the rest of the state, World Tourism Day was celebrated on Tuesday with a day-long programme scheduled in Kokrajhar.
A cycle rally was carried out in connection with the celebration of the day where nearly 50 participants participated from different places of Kokrajhar district.
Bodoland Territorial Region chief executive member Pramod Boro flagged off the rally which started from the main gate of BTC Secretariat, Bodofa Nwgwr in Kokrajhar that traversed to the JD Road via RNB Road and concluded at Baokhungri Hills which was organised by Tourism department of Bodoland Territorial Region Government.
BTR CEM Boro also inaugurated the trekking route from Quary road to Dheerbil along the Baokhungri Hills in Kokrajhar in the presence of BTC executive member for Tourism department, Dharma Narayan Das and officials.
Boro said that the BTR Government has been putting emphasis on exploring tourism hotspots along the rural areas and stepping to create attractions for the tourists in the area.
He said that there are several rural tourist spots in the districts of BTR region which include Ultapani, Saralpara, Jomduar.
He said that the BTC administration has been stepping in to highlight more rural tourist spots in the region which are seeing potentiality for attracting visitors and tourists across the country.
He said that the BTC region has many aspects of exploring tourist spots which are available with rural areas. He said that through the exploring of rural tourist spots in the area, people are getting opportunities of livelihood earning among the society.
He has urged educated youths in the region to come forward towards uplift and development of the tourism aspects in council.
