NEW DELHI, Jul 31: Arunachal Pradesh Governor BD Mishra met Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism KJ Alphons here on Tuesday and discussed about harnessing and promoting the tourism potential of Arunachal Pradesh.
Mishra apprised the MoS of the state’s tourism potential and said the industry could help in bringing all-round development of Arunachal Pradesh in terms of employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, and revenue generation.
“Our tourism has scope of developing spiritual tourism, ecotourism, cultural tourism and adventure tourism, including development of special tourist circuits like Buddhist circuit/Krishna circuit, etc. There is a scope for promotion of a new Buddhist tourism network to attract tourists from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to Buddhist pilgrimage centres in Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan, along with Gaya and Lumbini,” he said.
The governor emphasized the need for innovative projects in tourism and increasing the standard of hospitality service. He requested the minister for developing courses focusing on inherent capabilities of the state, “which are tourism and the hospitality sector.”
The MoS informed Mishra of his plan to visit Arunachal Pradesh for the purpose in September this year.
The governor also expressed gratitude to the Centre for its planning to build railway lines up to Tawang, Aalo and Parashuramkund, “which will go a long way in promoting regional tourism and pilgrims to religious places like Parasuramhund, Tawang Monastry, Malinithan, etc.”
Mishra also called on Drinking Water & Sanitation Minister Uma Bharati on Tuesday. They discussed about portable drinking water and toilet facilities in urban and rural areas of the state.
The governor sought assistance from the union minister in maintaining and sustaining the already constructed toilets in the rural areas of Arunachal Pradesh. He said although every household in the state has toilet facility, the lack of water connection has raised a new challenge for the rural community.
The governor stressed the need to construct adequate public toilets in markets, bus stops, parks, etc, in the state capital, and also requested the minister for toilet facilities in schools, colleges and universities, especially for girl students. He pointed that with proper toilet facilities in schools, particularly in rural areas, the school dropout rate could be checked.
Commending the union cabinet for removing the goods and services tax from sanitary napkins, Mishra informed that due to lack of basic amenities and opportunities in health, drinking water, rural roads, etc, there is a huge migration from the border areas to the plains of the state.
He sought the minister’s help in this regard, saying it would enhance the safety and security of the nation. (PRO, Raj Bhavan)
