IV. GANGTOK SUMMIT ON TOURISM SECTOR – 27-28 APRIL, 2008

S.No.
Actionable Points
Action Taken
1.

A “Forum” consisting of representatives of Ministries of DoNER, Tourism and Civil Aviation, NEC, Public and Private stakeholders, tour operators etc. would be established for the formulation of:
-State tourism circuits
-Inter-State tourism circuits
-Eco and Village tourism.
-Promotional events.
-Advocacy.

NEC has constituted the North Eastern States Tourism Forum (NEST) with Secretary, NEC as its Chairman, Director (Tourism), NEC as its Member Secretary and include respective Commissioners and Secretaries (Tourism) of different States of the NER. The Forum will prepare plans to promote tourism in

  • Intra and Inter-State Tourist Circuit
  • Eco Tourism
  • Village Tourism
  • Promotional Events
  • Destination Promotion for the North East

The meeting of this Forum will be held quarterly either at Shillong or any other State.

First meeting was held on 30th April, 2008, at Shillong.

       
M/s NEDFi have engaged a consultant to prepare a Regional Roadmap/ Action Plan for development of tourism in NER.
2.

In consultation with the NE States, the Ministry of DoNER/NEC in consultation with the Ministries of Tourism, Home Affairs, External Affairs, Defence, etc. will formulate and launch a professionally prepared publicity programme on security for tourists in the North-East.

A Committee was constituted to formulate a strategy for promotion of tourism in the NER comprising representatives from DoNER, MHA, DAVP and Indian Institute of Mass Communication. The campaign is expected to cost about Rs. 2.50 crore. Three T.V. spots (Mesmerizing NE) has already been telecast on popular channels and received appreciation. These spots based on the theme of North East as a safe destination for investors as well as tourists to an agency.
MHA has also begun a campaign with emphasis on security aspects to allay apprehensions about travel restriction in consultation with DoNER.
The Ministry organized a successful Conclave on 16th January 2008 to educate government officials on North East as a safe and attractive destination. The seminar had participation from NE States, tour operators, Central Ministries, etc. An exhibition will also be held on the sidelines of the seminar.
The Ministry is also working with MHA to highlight the potential of the North East through the NE Newsletter being published, and widely circulated, by the MHA primarily containing development news.
3
Ministry of DONER/NEC in consultation with Ministries of Tourism, Home Affairs, External Affairs, Defence, etc. will take up with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the possibility of organizing major commemorative events to which descendents of those buried in the North-East war cemeteries will be invited. This will, incidentally project the security environment in NER more accurately to western tourists.

Ministry of DoNER has written to the State Governments of Nagaland, Manipur to develop a proposal for the same. Plans from the State Governments are awaited.

The Ministry of DoNER is also working on a media strategy to comprehensively focus on the North East Region.  Firms have been short listed for the campaign.
4.
Ministry of DoNER/NEC will sponsor NE promotion films (cultural and touristic) aimed at schoolchildren and college students in other parts of India. SPICMACAY will be requested to screen these in universities.
The Ministry has produced some documentaries. More such programmes are likely to be awarded during the current year and a panel of agencies for undertaking the work has been formed.
5.
NEC to broaden its collaboration with ILFS for facilitating construction of star category hotels at identified locations. The scope of the North East Tourism Fund needs to be widened. Ministry of DONER also to be associated.
NEC has finalized an agreement with the Infrastructure Leasing and Finance Services (IL&FS) which has been signed on 17th October 2007. ILFS has initiated steps for supporting budget hotels in the North Eastern Region in twelve cities which are under various stages of funding/construction. These are at Agartala, Guwahati, Jorhat, Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Manas, Dimapur, Kohima, Aizawl, Shillong, Tawang & Bomdila and Gangtok. The Budget Hotel at Agartala has been commissioned.
6.
A “dedicated airline” for the NE region, particularly for establishing connectivity within the NE states is under consideration of NEC/DoNER. This arrangement could be widened subsequently to provide connectivity with Nepal, Bhutan, Dhaka, Yangon, Bangkok, Kunming etc. for the promotion of regional tourism.

Bids were invited for this purpose by NEC. Only two bids were received by the last date. These were found invalid.

as been decided to modify and redraft the bid document. NEC is finalizing the bid document for inviting fresh bids.
7.

NEC/Ministry of DoNER will organize promotional events at different locations in the country aimed at Government servants for LTC visits to tourism destinations in the NE.

The Ministry initiated a COS Note for relaxation of LTC Rules for travel to the NER.  DOPT has recently issued orders for allowing air travel to non-entitled officials and conversion of HTC to LTC for travel to the NER.

A major event was organised in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 16th January 2008 for LTC holders inviting them to come to NER. Government of India employees from Ministries and Organizations, State Governments, Domestic tour operators and the Indian Association of Tour Operators attended. Presentations were made by the State Governments and Ministry of Tourism, Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS). An exhibition on the tourism sector was organized at the venue. Over 1000 delegates participated in the event. 
8.

The Thai Minister of Commerce will be visiting the NER with a business delegation between 21-24 June 2007. This visit will promote tourism and also Thai business investment in the NER.

The Thai Commerce Minister visited the North Eastern Region (Agartala, Guwahati and Shillong) in June 2007 with a delegation of 33 officials and businessmen. Ministry of DoNER held the North East India Trade and Investment Opportunities Week at Bangkok from 1-4 October, 2007 which was attended by more than 500 participants from both the countries.

The Deputy Minister (Industry), Thailand along with a delegation of 17 Thai officials and businesspersons visited the North Eastern Region (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim) between 9 to 12 January, 2007 to discuss investment prospects in the North Eastern Region. They had extensive discussions with State Government representatives as well as businesspersons from the Region.
9.

The Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Smt. Ambika Soni, announced the establishment of one Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) in each of the States of NER that do not have any such institutions (Assam and Meghalaya already have one IHM each).
Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned an Institute for Hotel Management (IHM) at Aizawl for Rs. 10 crore for which Rs. 4 crore has already been released. The Institute for Nagaland will be approved shortly by Ministry of Tourism.   Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura have yet to forward their project proposals. Institutes are already available at Guwahati, Shillong and Gangtok.
10.
HRD and capacity-building of NE youths in the tourism, hotel and hospitality services are being undertaken by Ministry of DoNER/NEC/Ministry of Tourism. These efforts would be synergised for undertaking capacity-building in a planned way

Ministry of Tourism/ DoNER/ NEC can work out a strategy to impart training in tourism related skills to candidates from the NE States. The training could be funded from the Capacity Building schemes of the Ministry of DoNER.

DoNER has approved a programme for the training of 125 youth from NER in Aviation Hospitality and Tourism Management. The programme is to be imparted by Ashok Institute, a unit of ITDC, at Bangalore from 1st July 2008.
11.
Ministry of DoNER will follow up issue of relevant Notifications by the DIPP under the North East Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy(NEIIPP) 2007 within June, 2007.

The necessary notifications have been issued by DIPP which includes the services sector.
12.

Ministry of Home Affairs will consider and expedite issue of appropriate orders for relaxation of PAP/RAP restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals into Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim based on inputs given by the States. States of Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh also to consider simplification of procedures for issue of ILPs. For example, all Central and State Government employees and employees of Central and State PSUs may be allowed to enter based on official identity proof.

 
State Governments to identify inter State tourism circuits and share the details with the Ministries of Home Affairs, Tourism, DoNER and NEC both for relaxation of the PAP/RAP restrictions and extension of technical and financial assistance for development of these identified circuits.
MHA received proposals from State Governments. In the case of Arunachal Pradesh only, relaxation of PAP/RAP restrictions has been made and orders issued by MHA in May,2008. Proposals from the States of Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Sikkim are still under examination by MHA.
13.
NEC jointly with Ministries of DoNER, Tourism and the State Governments to take forward the suggestion of the Ministry of Tourism to take advantage of Meeting Incentive Convention Event (MICE) Tourism by setting up Convention Centres at suitable locations and with all required infrastructure with assistance of the Ministry of Tourism.
Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned a Convention Centre at Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok at Guwahati.
14.
NEC/Ministry of DoNER to organize a tourism promotional event at Bangkok jointly with the Ministry of Tourism and the Embassy of India at Bangkok after the Thai Commerce Minister’s visit to the North East in June, 2007.
Ministry of DoNER organized the ‘North East India Trade & Investment Opportunities Week’ at Bangkok from 1-4 October 2007 with a session dedicated to Tourism.