Soni focus on N-E tourism

By Venkat Parsa

New Delhi:May 30: Union tourism minister Ambika Soni has accorded top priority to development of tourism in the North-East, since tourism has great potential for employment generation and economic growth. Ms Soni said in order to tap the immense tourism potential of the region, what is required is a concerted effort for upgrading infrastructure and ensuring better connectivity of important tourist destinations and circuits in the North-East.

Union tourism secretary S. Banerjee recently reviewed progress of projects sanctioned to the state governments for development and promotion of tourism in the North-East. He said during the 10th Plan period a total amount of Rs 319 crores was released to the North Eastern states, including Sikkim, as against the mandatory provision of 10 per cent amounting to Rs 269 crores. Similarly, in the first year of the 11th Plan in 2007-08, against the target of Rs 95.3 crores the actual expenditure on the North-East amounted to Rs 170 crores.