Guv bats for harnessing tourism potentials

Itanagar, Jul 13 : Arunachal Pradesh Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh has advocated for harnessing state's tourism potentials and stressed on upgrading tourism infrastructures within and outside the state to translate the potentials into reality.

Official sources informed today that the governor opined this during a meeting with Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Gajen Gadi and Secretary Tourism Bandana Deori at Raj Bhawan last evening.

Gen Singh called for upgradation of the state government's tourism counters at Kolkata and Guwahati airports with good interior decoration of tribal textures and designs and updated technology so that it reflects the true image of the state.

He also batted for setting up of functional office in the counters with fax machines and computers.

Expressing his concern over the existing condition of the state counters, Gen Singh asked the department of Tourism to take proper initiatives towards creating infrastructures with skilled staff to manage the offices.

Laying emphasis to improve the present set up of the counter at Guwahati, he said this would facilitate the people outside the state, including visitors, to get a glance of the treasure house of exotic flora and fauna and the rich tribal heritage of the state.

On promotion of tourism at Ganga Lake site, the governor called for modernisation of the existing structures through involving research students in designing brochures and pamphlets for the lake.

He also pitched for procuring latest adventure equipment like inflatable rafts, motor boats, quality life jackets and helmets.

Gen Singh also stressed on inviting school children to Ganga Lake so that they could motivate their parents, teachers and relatives and help promoting the site as tourism spot.

Informing that an international rafting competition would be organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in the state in few-month time, the governor, who will be the chief patron of the event, directed the Tourism Secretary to coordinate with the SAI to make it an annual event to bring the state on the map of adventure tourism.

Discussion on adventure tourism project at Jote-Poma village also figured in the meeting, sources added.