MoS Tourism holds up Sikkim as best performing State

INTERNATIONAL NORTH EAST TOURISM MART UNDERWAY IN GUWAHATI
GANGTOK, 20 Jan [IPR]: The first ever International North East Tourism Mart 2013 was inaugurated at Guwahati by Union Minister of State for Tourism, Dr K Chiranjeevi in the presence of the Governor of Assam, J B Patnaik. In his address Dr Chiranjeevi highlighted the commitment of his Ministry towards the development of tourism in the North East and called upon all the tourism stakeholders of the NE region to seize this opportunity and promote the region in tourism.
He informed the gathering of the Govt of India's decision to revoke the restriction on granting visa within two months for tourists visiting India. He also felt that such Tourism mart should be held on a regular basis annually.
The Governor of Assam called upon the NE states to play a proactive role in the field of Tourism and added that there is great potential in the future in this sector. The Chief Secretary of Assam and Secretary Ministry of Tourism, GOI also addressed the gathering.
Around 83 buyer delegates from 23 countries including Spain, Switzerland, Japan, Korea, France and Germany are participating in the mart.
Dr Chiranjeevi during his visit to the Sikkim Exhibition stall released a film on West Sikkim produced by the West Sikkim Tourism Society.
The Union Minister in his Press Conference singled out Sikkim as the best performing State in tourism amongst the NE States. Sikkim’s Tourism Minister, Bhim Dhungel extended an invitation to Dr Chiranjeevi who promised to visit Sikkim in the near future.
Tourism Department also made a presentation on the tourism scenario at the conference and gave information on the forthcoming International Flower Festival in February. The Press was also informed on the inauguration of the Sakyamuni Buddha at Ravangla scheduled for March 2013
Sikkim was represented by Minister Tourism, Bhim Dhungel, Chairman, STDC, N.K. Subba along with Secretary Tourism, K S Tobgay, tourism officials, members from TAAS, SAT0, Village tourism society and Sikkim Paragliding Society.
The Mart is being held at the Sarusajai Stadium at Guwahati from 18 to 21 January. As a follow-up to the event nine foreign travel agencies are to visit Sikkim on a familiarisation tour.