Kohima: Union Minister of State for Tourism and Defence Ajay Bhatt on Sunday inaugurated the three-day long 9th International Tourism Mart (ITM) for North East Region under the aegis of Union Ministry of Tourism with Nagaland Government as host commenced in the State Banquet Hall in Kohima.
Inaugurating the ITM Bhatt said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed from the Red Fort that everyone should visit North East India, it has immense tourism potential. He said the simple nature and hospitality of the people in Nagaland and its rich culture is incomparable, for which tourism will be the best way to know and understand this richness, which he experienced himself. Bhatt said that in the Tourism Mart there was enough scope on domestic tourism. He said there is a huge potential for border tourism and wildlife tourism. He also asked the ambassadors of different countries to motivate the tourists of their country to visit this region of India.
Bhatt said that the Center is doing many things for the development of tourism in the Northeastern states and preparing the infrastructure. The Center has also sanctioned funds for the Northeastern states under the ‘Swadesh Darshan,’ ‘Prashad’ schemes and ‘Swadesh Darshan’ schemes, under which 16 projects have been approved in the North-East, which are nearing completion.
Speaking in the function Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio articulated the hope that the International Tourism Mart at Kohima will give a boost to the tourism and business sector in Nagaland and the entire Northeast. Rio said that ITM 2021 is the right initiative for promoting tourism in the Northeastern region and hoped that the Northeast region will emerge as one of the favourite tourism and business destinations in India.
Union Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism Arvind Singh said that the International Tourism Marts is the biggest travel and tour networking event in the North Eastern Region of the country with its rich natural beauty, serenity and exotic flora and fauna, which are invaluable resources for the development of tourism, especially eco-tourism.
The programme was attended by the High Commissioners of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Ambassador Extra Ordinary, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Ambassador, The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, amongst others.
The three-day event will be attended by over 300 delegates including Government officials, industry stakeholders and local participants. In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat,’ the delegation also includes students from across the country which will parts of study tours, will be interacting with local students and immersing themselves in the region’s rich heritage and culture.