'Arunachal needs new tourism hotspots'

ITANAGAR: Calling tourism an industry which can engage locals and minimize rural-to-urban migration, All Arunachal Pradesh Tour Operators' Association (Aaptoa) demanded that new tourist circuits be opened, existing ones be extended and sufficient funds be allotted to create tourism infrastructure in the state.
Addressing the media here on Thursday night, Aaptoa general secretary Duyu Tamo said new tourist circuits can be created for Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts, He said, "This region has the potential to boost cultural and festival tourism." He also demanded the extension of existing tourist circuits such as Nacho-Limeking-Taksing, Tuting-Gelling-Singga and Miao-Vijaynagar.
"The Union home ministry needs to include the Buddhist circuit in its national action plan. This can attract more Buddhist tourists to this landlocked state," he said, adding that the Greenfield airport at Hollongi must be constructed immediately to increase tourist influx.
To make the tourism department the state's highest revenue earner, Aaptoa president John Panye appealed to the government to release sufficient funds for better infrastructure. "To make tourists more comfortable, the government needs to better its infrastructure. Department officials, including DTOs and TIOs, should be well-equipped", said Panye.
"People are aware of the potential of the state, but show poor participation. We have to include more stakeholders for the development of tourism and involve them in planning and policy making," he said. He added that the state government should conduct one mega festival instead of several small events.