Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu said on Monday that he had directed the offices of all Resident Commissioners and Deputy Resident Commissioners outside the State to issue Inner Line Permits (ILP) to tourists within 15 minutes and make the procedure simpler.
He also asked police personnel deployed at check gates to be more courteous with tourists.
Mr. Khandu was addressing the inaugural function of the three-day Arunachal Travel Congress organised by the Arunachal Pradesh Tour Operators' Association under the aegis of the State Tourism Department in Tawang.
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Arunachal Pradesh being a protected area, domestic tourists were required to obtain ILP while foreign tourists had to obtain Restricted Area Permit (RAP).
The Chief Minister directed the district administrations to fix a uniform tariff for hotels and taxis and upload it on the district website so that tourists could plan their trip.
He called for a collective effort both by the Tourism Department and the tour operators to bring the State on the world tourism map. “Arunachal Pradesh has abundant potential to become a tourist destination hub,” said Mr. Khandu. The State must be rid of polythene and tobacco and hygienic local cuisine must be promoted to attract more tourists.
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Tourism Minister Jarbom Gamlin said that a tourism development plan had been formulated keeping in mind the need to provide economic opportunities to the local communities and preserve the fragile eco-system and ethnic identity of the people. A proposal to lease wayside amenities to the private sector had been sent to the Centre and its response was awaited.
In her keynote address, Tourism Secretary Bandana Deori said the sector stimulated other economic sectors. It also provided the incentive to preserve architectural heritage and helped in the survival of art forms, crafts and culture. She stressed the need for building partnership with other States to promote and boost tourism.