Formulae to attract tourists : Get down to the basics
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: September 29, 2012 -
Observing the World Tourism Day :: Pix - TSE
Bombs and guns not only frighten the public, it also scares away the potential investors.
This is precisely what the Chief Minister meant when he said that the law and order situation is dissuading industrial houses from investing in the State.
No arguments here, but wouldn't bombs and guns also frighten away tourists, domestic as well as foreign ?
Definitely and while it is not very clear what the Chief Minister has to say on this he did say that with industrial houses staying away the only option for the people and the State is the tourism sector.
Confused, we are. But what is definitely not confusing is the fact that apart from guns and bombs, the abysmal power supply, lack of adequate drinking water, pathetic road conditions, especially the National Highways, are sure shot formulae to shut the door on potential tourists.
Upgrading Tulihal to an international airport sounds fantastic, but it is a truism that it is not flights alone which will draw in the tourists.
Gangtok continues to attract tourists, both domestic and foreign, though it does not have an airport.
The only air link is the chopper service connecting it to Bagdogra. Shillong, another tourist destination, does not have an airport, the nearest being at Umroi, which is about 35 kms away.
Sans airports, yet two places which can teach the State Government a thing or two on tourism. Get back to the basics.
A place surviving on 8 to 9 hours of power supply in a day and a Government talking about upgrading the airport to an international level as a component of promoting tourism and the Tughlaqnesque character of the powers that be is too obvious to miss.
Improving the power supply scenario will take time, but then so will upgrading Tulihal airport to the standard of an international airport. And power is more urgent than an airport of international status.
Tourists will certainly not find the idea of stepping out from a glitzy airport to be greeted by a city where half of it is plunged in darkness appealing.
On the other hand, hard selling Manipur as a tourist destination will need more than improving the power supply but definitely a place with uninterrupted power supply is going to be a more attractive place than one where electricity comes for only a few hours in a day.
It is not only about tourism or attracting investments. It is about getting the priorities right.
For years, the Government has perfected the art of putting the cart before the horse and this also came out in its full splendour during the World Tourism Day held at Hotel Imphal on September 27.
Reverse this trend. Change mindset. There is no point in talking about developing select sites as tourist centres when development projects continue to overshoot the deadlines by years.
Improve the conditions of the roads and ensure quality maintenance. Drill some sense of discipline into the policemen manning the roads and streets of Imphal and other places.
Step out of the contract mentality.
In short try to get down to the business of governance.
The rest will fall into place.
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