Sikkim has taken maximum funds from MoT: Selja


GANGTOK, December 6: Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja has assured full support to the Sikkim Government which is all set to celebrate 2010 as the ‘Year of Tourism’.
Whatever support is required by Sikkim Government for the ‘Year of Tourism’, it has to simply ask and the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is ready to extend support, said Selja in a press meet here at Chintan Bhavan after a daylong regional tourism conference of East and Northeastern States.

Terming the conference as a success, the Union Minister said that the participants had fruitful discussions where the State ministers and officials made their presentations on the region specific tourism aspects and tourism related issues. Some of the issues were solved at the spot while other issues have been noted down, she said.

Underlining the belief of the MoT that region specific issues can be solved only through regional seminars for promotion of tourism in the region, the Union Minister said that domestic tourism has a huge potential in India. Already the domestic tourists figures are around 500 million and we can improve this especially in the Northeastern region, she said.

The Minister also informed that MoT specifications for registered travel agencies and tour operators have been modified and the office specifications for Northeastern tour agencies have been cut down to 100 sq ft from the existing 250 ft.
Selja further informed that Sikkim Government has been proactive in making tourism projects and seeking funds from the Ministry. Sikkim is forging ahead in tourism sector and the State has also taken maximum funds from us for different tourism projects, she said.

Tourism projects worth Rs. 150 crores have been sanctioned by the MoT for Sikkim in the 11th Plan till date and a sum of Rs. 113 crores have already been released, said the Union Minister. Already 11 tourism projects have been sanctioned for Sikkim for the year 2009-10, it was informed.

The Union Minister also asserted that media plays a large role in the promotion of tourism in the region and country and added that services of media should be constantly used by the tourism stakeholders.