Agartala, Feb 01, 2024, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Feb 01: Minister for Tourism Sushanta Chowdhury on Thursday said the state saw a rise in the tourists’ arrival since former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Gangualy was appointed as brand ambassador of the state’s tourism in October last year.

Addressing a press conference, the Tourism minister drew a comparison in the figures of tourists’ arrival and revenue collections in the state in the months of October, November and December of 2022-23 and 2023-24.

He said, a total of 84,217 tourists, including 5,964 international tourists, had visited Tripura in October November and December of 2022-23 and the revenue collection was recorded at over Rs. 1.2 crore.

During this period in 2023-24, the number of tourists arrived in the state was 1,55,183, including 19,614 international arrivals and the revenue collection was over Rs. 1.23 crore.

Chowdhury said, the statistics indicate the increase in tourists’ arrival after Ganguly was made the brand ambassador.

Speaking to the media, Chowdhury also highlighted progress of various works and future plans under the Tourism department.

He said, works for setting up 51 Log Huts were undertaken at various tourist destinations. Among them, 41 Log Huts were already made operational and 10 other Log Huts would be introduced soon.

For the comfort of tourists, a plan was in the pipeline to introduce 15 Home Stay facilities—11 at Narkelkunja and 4 at Jampui Hills. Among them, 11 facilities would be introduced initially, the Tourism minister said, adding that such facilities would be extended to every district in the days to come and the state government has set a goal to frame a Home Stay Policy.

Four islands of Dumboor Lake including Chitta Para, Amulya Sadhan Para and Twin Island near Narkelkunja would be developed as tourist destinations. Under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme, an amount of Rs. 30 crore has been approved for this project and the process for making DPR is already underway, Chowdhury mentioned.

He also said, with the financial assistance from the Asian Development bank, the tourism infrastructure would be developed at Chabimura, Sonamukhi in Kailashahar, Chaturdash Devata Temple and Kasbeswari Kalibari. Under this project, an amount of Rs. 12.51 crore and Rs. 17.66 crore would be spent for development of Chaturdash Devata Temple and Kasbeswari Kalibari respectively.

Besides, Agartala and Unakoti have been approved under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 of the Ministry of Tourism. Around Rs.70 crore for each of the two destinations would be sanctioned, Chowdhury said, adding that an initiative was taken to purchase a modern Houseboat for Dumboor Lake.

Secretary to the Tourism department U.K. Chakma and Director Tapan Das were also present in the press conference.