Around 26,997,916 domestic & foreign tourists visited Assam since 2014 to 2018: State Tourism Minister

Guwahati: In a reply to the query by Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi, State Minister of Tourism Chandan Brahma on Monday informed the August house of the Assam Legislative Assembly that from 2014- 2019 around 26, 997,916 National and Foreign Tourists visited the state Assam.

While furnishing the details, the Minister stated that in the year 2014-15 around 48,63,826 domestic tourist had visited Assam. On the other hand, around 20,005 Foreign tourists had visited the state.

In the year 2015-16, around 56,42,950 domestic tourist and 26,320 Foreign tourists visited the state.

Similarly, in the year 2016-17, around 54,13,156 domestic tourists and 28,419 foreign tourists visited the state. Again in the year 2017-18, there has been a sharp rise in the graph of the tourists visit in the state, as per data provided by the minister of Tourism there were around 59,34,791 domestic tourists and 31,739 foreign tourists who had visited Assam in the above mentioned year.

It may also be mentioned that in the year 2018-2019 (upto December, 2018) there were around 47,10,971 domestic tourists and 25,739 foreign tourists visited Assam.

The Minister had also informed that since 2014-19, the Government had taken at least 6 developmental schemes for the state under the BJP-led Government.

In a query by MLA Kurmi, the Government had taken a step for the promotion of Assam Tourism through aggressive marketing and publicity campaign.

Schemes like Punya Dham Yatra and Amar Alohi were also introduced.

Participation in Fairs & Festivals, Business Summits, Seminars and Conclave on Tourism were also initiated, informed the Minister.

Also, infrastructure development schemes like SWADESH DARSHAN and PRASAD was also sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

Besides a few sustainable eco-tourism projects providing livelihood and ensuring carbon-free mobility have been implemented at Chandubi and Majuli, stated the Minister.

Similar kinds of proposals have also been taken up at Kaziranga, Manas, Dibru-Saikhowa National Parks.

Speaking about the improvement schemes for the pilgrimage sites, the minister stated that different kinds of pilgrim’s facilities have been taken up at Kamakhya Dham underfunding of Oil India Limited.

Besides proposals have been taken up for: (i) Ropeway at Kamakhya (ii) Water sports facilities at different locations across Assam.

During the discussion, MLA Kurmi also questioned the Government of Assam to reveal the amount that has been sanctioned to Bollywood Actor and Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra as Brand Ambassador, to which the Tourism Minister Chandan Brahma clearly stated that the amount could not be disclosed as per the Agreement with Priyanka Chopra.