Devise comprehensive tourism policy

Itanagar, Sep 20: Arunachal Pradesh Tour Operators Association (APTOA) has urged the state government to formulate a comprehensive and sustainable tourism policy involving its members and other public and private sector organisations to boost the tourism industry.

Submitting a memorandum to Chief Minister Gegong Apang, the association advocated that important tourism festivals like Buddha Mahotsava and Siang Darshan should be included in the tourism policy as mega events with fixed dates and infrastructure like tourist lodges, tourist reception centres, cafeterias and wayside amenities should be leased out to local registered tour operators only. Moreover, a tourism village or reception centre should be set up at Itanagar and there should be periodical coordination meetings of tourism department with APTOA, the organisation suggested adding the government should also open new tourist circuits to promote cultural and adventure tourism.

The APTOA also urged the government to implement the policy of allowing one or more tourists instead of groups of four or more to ensure more tourist flow into the state.

UNI