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ASSAM TOURISM : ITS POTENTIAL FOR INVESTMENT
Schemes / Infrastructure Projects sanctioned by
the Government :
Over the years, both the Central and State Govt. of
Assam had identified and executed about 80 medium and
minor tourism projects with total financial outlay of
Rs.34.30 crore for infrastructure building as well as
schemes for marketing and promotion of Assam Tourism.
These included infrastructure projects like (a) Tourism
Complex, (b) Yatriniwas, (c) Tourist Reception
Centres, (d) Upgradation and expansion of tourist
facilities, (e) Development of Pilgrim Centres
and (f) Water Sports etc. All these have a major
impact on promotion of tourism in the state of Assam.
During the last two years as many as 14 tourism infrastructure
projects have been completed in the state of Assam with
total investment of about Rs. 4.90 crore.
As of now, as many as 23 infrastructure projects with
a total outlay of Rs.14.65 crore are in various stages
of implementation. There have been significant progress
of most of the projects during the last two years. Once
all the infrastructure projects are completed, these
will go a long way in promoting Assam Tourism. Nevertheless,
for sustainable growth of tourism, large investment
for infrastructure development is called for. This can
be possible if the private sector comes forward for
investment considering the potential of Assam Tourism.
New initiatives for Infrastructure Development
:
(i) During the financial year 2002-03, the Govt. of
India, Ministry of Tourism, has identified six (6)
Tourism Circuits in the country for the development
of infrastructure of international standard, one of
which is :
North-East Circuit (Eco-Tourism Circuit) :
Shillong - Guwahati - Kaziranga - Tezpur - Bhalukpong
- Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) - Majuli - Sivasagar -
Kohima (Nagaland)
The Govt. of India has also sanctioned Rs. 2.42 crore
to the Govt. of Assam during 2002-03 for development
of infrastructure in the above circuit under the scheme
of Integrated Development of Tourism Circuit.
Execution of the project is now in progress.
(ii) Under the scheme of Integrated Product, Infrastructure
and Destination Development, the Govt. of India
has sanctioned Heritage & Eco-Tourism Project
for Majuli, the world's largest riverine island
and a world heritage centre, at a cost of Rs. 3.82 crore,
of which Rs. 3.28 crore has been released. Execution
of the project is now in progress.
Arrival of tourists :
The renewed emphasis on tourism, mainly in the sphere
of infrastructure development has been well complimented
by the recent statistics of tourist inflow as briefly
depicted below :
| |
2001 |
2002 |
2003(upto Sept., 2003) |
| Indian |
10,10,651 |
19,53,915 |
18,97,715 |
| Foreign |
6,171 |
6,409 |
5,419 |
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Public- Private Partnership :
Tourism is one sector which cannot grow to its true
potential with governmental efforts alone. It requires
private initiatives for investment and promotion. The
State Govt. has endeavored to intensity private sector
investment and participation in management and development
of the projects already set up and also for establishment
of new projects. With these objectives in view, at
present 32 various projects / units are run by ATDC
in association with private participation.
Some major projects with private participation are (a)
Amusement Park at Guwahati; (b) Ropeway project
at Kamakhya; (c) Luxury Cruise Vessel project
between Kaziranga and Guwahati, etc. are in various
stages of implementation.
Specified Projects for investment and setting up
Joint Ventures :
In the above backdrop, tourism being a multi-sectoral
activity, can be promoted by investment in some major
projects. A tentative list of such projects are given
below :
(1) Ropeway Project linking North Guwahati and Guwahati
:
There is scope for setting up and commissioning of a
Passenger Ropeway Mass Transportation System
across the Brahmaputra river linking the city of Guwahati
with North Guwahati with an intermediate station at
Umananda Temple in the midst of river Brahmaputra for
the commuting public, tourist and pilgrims. Apart from
IIT Guwahati, Amusement Park, Satellite city and many
other major centres of attractions, the North Guwahati
area offers excellent scope for joyrides by aerial ropeway
from Guwahati city. The length of the ropeway will be
about 2.75 KMs and estimated cost for such a project,
according to one estimate, would be about Rs. 10.00
crore.
(2) Floating Hotel & Restaurant / Marriage Hall
etc on River Brahmaputra :
As a major centre of tourist attraction and to promote
river tourism, there is ample scope to introduce "Floating
Hotel & Restaurant / Marriage Hall etc on River
Brahmaputra". Such a large project with all
modern facilities and amenities with initial investment
of about Rs. 4.00 crore has tremendous scope. A luxury
Cruise Vessel can also be linked up for cruising between
Guwahati and Dibrugarh on the Brahmaputra, which is
a National Waterway, with navigation channel
for at least 330 days a year to be maintained by Inland
Waterways Authority of India. Such a project will
cost about Rs. 4.50 crore to be promoted for the high-end
customers in domestic and overseas market.
(3) Resorts and Tourist Accommodation :
There is scope for opening a chain of Tourist Resorts
and Accommodation Centres in all the important places
of tourist interest in Assam.
(4) Convention Centre and Star Hotels/ resorts at
Guwahati and other places:
This premier city of Guwahati offers scope for a
modern Convention Centre with all facilities
and also a large hotel / resort of 4 / 5 star category.
(5) Recreational Park at Guwahati :
In the outskirts of Guwahati City, there is scope for
setting up a large Recreational Park with different
entertainment facilities like Children Train, Water
rides, Water sports etc in the line of a Theme Park
with initial investment of about Rs. 15.00 crore.
(6) Hover Craft /Speed Boat Services :
Introducing Hover Craft / Speed Boat in the Brahmaputra
may be another area which may be feasible for investment
for linking some of the major tourist spots by river
ways.
(7) Hot -Air Ballooning :
Introducing Hot air Ballooning over Kaziranga National
Park, Manas, Pobitora, Dibriu-Saikhowa National Park
etc may also be yet another potential area for large
size investment as a viable commercial proposition.
Likewise, investment for water sports like, para sailing,
rafting etc with all provisions of tourist amenities
at Jia-bharali (near Tezpur) etc may be a very
potential source of investment and development.
(8) Golf Courses - Upgradation, Modernization and
Management :
No other state in the country offers as many as 20
golf courses within a compact area as Assam does.
A striking feature of the golf courses is the availability
of large numbers of airstrips, which can be upgraded
and modernized. The golf circuit will require modern
accommodation facilities in selected places and investment
for upgradation and modernization to promote them amongst
the golf-lovers of the world and intensive marketing
for their promotion. Promoting the golf courses and
also the century old tea gardens amongst the present
generation in UK, Scotland, etc besides golf lovers
of different countries may be yet another viable area
for investment.
The Govt. of Assam also welcomes project proposals
with details of techno-economic feasibility report for
setting up large revenue generating projects for
setting up as joint venture with provision for equity
participation by Govt. of India, Ministry of Tourism
and the State Govt. The Govt. of Assam may also provide
ground hospitality and other supports for technical
experts for conducting techno-economic study for such
tourism projects in selected areas
The State Govt. will continue its Policy Initiatives
for growth of tourism in the State. If the fiscal incentives
available to other industries are also provided to the
project/units under tourism sector in near future by
the Govt of India, it will go a long way for sustainable
growth of tourism sector in the entire North East region.
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