NEW DELHI, Sep 28: The International Pilgrimage Revolution (IPR), a Northeast-based tour operator, bagged the National Tourism Award in the ‘best inbound tour operator’ category during the World Tourism Day celebration here on Saturday.
Fr Tomy Joseph, a Catholic priest at the Miao diocese in Changlang district, on behalf of the IPR received the award from MoS for Tourism & Culture, Prahlad Singh Patel, in the presence of World Tourism Organisation secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili.
Fr Joseph said the award would give the entire NE region a much-needed fillip in the tourism sector.
“The NE region has a huge tourism scope. Barring a few places, the region has not found a place in the wish list of the tourists. We hope this award will attract more tourists to the region, and the IPR can facilitate a hassle-free visit for them,” he said.
Bishop George Pallipparambil of the Miao diocese, who was instrumental in bringing the IPR to the NE region, also expressed joy over the award.
“Each state in the Northeast has its unique and identity and beauty. It has every feature to become a tourist’s delight. This award will go a long way in capturing the attention of the tourists across the world,” said the Salesian prelate.
In its first move to promote tourism in the region, the IPR recently brought a group of 13 German tourists for a weeklong trip to the Northeast. They visited the Kaziranga National Park, Majuli Island, the Rang Ghar in Sibsagar, the Golden Pagoda in Namsai, the Tibetan settlement in Miao, the World War-II cemetery in Jairampur, and the Namdapha National Park from 22 to 27 September.
“It is the first time we have experienced such beautiful cultures, traditional houses and foods,” said one of the tourists, who was on his fourth visit to India.
“This is an overwhelming experience and totally different,” said another tourist, who was on his sixth visit to the country.
