Editor,
Our state is a landlocked state with almost no visible industries. Hilly terrain provides no scope for large-scale commercial farming. Commercial fishing industry is also not possible. The only industry that has huge potential is the tourism industry.
Almost every district has huge potential for growth of tourism in our state. With the popularity of social media and development of surface transportation, huge numbers of both domestic and international tourists are coming to Arunachal.
Growth of tourism not only benefits the government by generating revenue but also helping locals to earn their bread and butter. The businesses of hotels and restaurants, homestays, local vendors and transporters are flourishing.
In spite of such advantages in the tourism industry, unfortunately, many of the districts are without regular district tourism officer (DTO) and many posts of TIO are also vacant. In many districts, DTO posts are being held by other officers as additional charge. But DTO is a technical post and hence should not be given to a general officer.
The posts of DTO and TIO require expert knowledge to promote and work for the growth of tourism in the districts. This expert knowledge can come only from candidates with tourism background.
Hundreds of unemployed tourism youths since many years have been appealing to the tourism department and the state government to advertise posts of DTOs and TIOs, but the government has always turned a deaf ear to our appeals.
Unemployed tourism youths are ready to serve the department with their expert knowledge for the promotion and growth of tourism. It has been around 8-9 years and not a single post of TIO or DTO has been advertised. But every year vacancies of all departments are advertised through the APPSCCE. It is only the tourism department which shows no interest in filling up the vacant posts of DTOs and TIOs.
If the Arunachal government really cares for the growth of tourism in the state, it should let the tourism department be run by the right officers.
The government should advertise the vacant posts without further delay.
Let such an important department be not run on the basis of ‘land of khusi marji’. Let this vital department, which earns revenues and builds the state’s image, be run by experts with tourism background.
Tinlap Lowong,
G Extension,
Naharlagun