Mizo govt to relax restricted area permit

Aizawl, Apr 17 (UNI) In a bid to lure foreign tourists in Mizoram, the state government has urged the Centre to relax the Restricted Area Permit (RAP).

The state Tourism Minister Z H Ropuia said that the Union Home ministry was not allowing the foreigners to enter the state freely.

''We have decided to discuss the matter with the Centre for relaxation of RAP instead of retrieving it,'' he said.

Even with RAP in place, 248 foreign tourists visited the state from 2005 till date, the minister added.

Mr Ropuia, however, admitted that the state lacked necessary infrastructure to provide accomodation to the foreign tourists as state tourist lodges were in bad condition.

''We are planning to establish several star hotels under a centrally sponsored scheme. As a first step, we have allocated Rs 5 crore project for renovation of the Chaltiang Tourist Lodge,'' he said.

The tourism minister also informed that the state had earned about Rs 1.32 lakhs from Reiek Pesk, a Mizo village constructed to attract tourists.

UNI SNR JYN/RD PG RAI1544