Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: Soni focus on N-E tourism

Soni focus on N-E tourism
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NewsByte on 30 May, 2008 02:41:26
 
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.