Tourist facilities in NE 'primitive'

SHILLONG, April 28: Despite the immense tourist potential of the Northeast States, the flow of incoming tourists, both domestic and foreign has remained minimal. For instance only few thousand of the 2.6 million foreign tourists to the country in 2000 visited the NE. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has identified the reason for the aversion of the tourists to visit the region. "The facilities for stay, food, shopping and entertainment are either non-existent or mostly primitive in nature", the Ministry said in its annual report for 2000-2001 released in New Delhi recently. It averred that the rich natural beauty, serenity, snow peaked mountains, white water rivers and the exotic flora and fauna are invaluable resources for the development of eco-tourism in the Northeast. Yet, the tourists do not get attracted to the region for reasons of lack of infrastructural and other related facilities in the numerous tourist spots, which have been included in the identified circuits. The report said the Ministry of Tourism has taken several steps to develop and promote tourism in the region. These include setting up of a full-fledged Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology at Shillong and financial assistance for promotion of fairs and festivals every year on a continuing basis. During the year 1999-2000, the Ministry sanctioned an amount of Rs 19 crore for the region for various developmental activities, out of which Rs 5.35 crore were released to the Northeastern States and Sikkim. Again, for the year 2000-2001, projects amounting to Rs 36.63 crore have been prioritised for the NE and Sikkim.