Assam’s tourism revenue has almost doubled in 2017-18, when compared to the earnings in 2016-17. The profit (before tax) of the corporation has almost doubled from Rs 2.24 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 4.22 crore in 2017-18.
“The inflow of domestic and foreign tourists has gone up noticeably and the occupancy of hotels, even in the off-season, has increased by about 20 per cent. It is evident that the flow of tourists to Assam has increased by 20 per cent in the last year,” said tourism minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while releasing the annual achievement report 2017-18 of the Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC).
This year the earmarked tourism budget has gone up to around Rs 89 crore. The state is also trying to get an externally-aided World Bank project, which will get a major boost of Rs 730 crore for tourism development in the state. “The overall development of tourism infrastructure around the tourist hotspots of the state will be the thrust area of the project, if it gets cleared. In the coming years, the ATDC’s role will be that of a facilitator in the growth of the tourism sector only by roping in competent players from the private sector,” added the minister.
The long-delayed ropeway project connecting the southern and northern banks of Guwahati over the Brahmaputra river will be ready soon. will see the light of the day soon. A trial run of the project will be held in December 2018 and is expected to be inaugurated in February next year.
