Tourism Policy to be impemented
1,17,083 tourists visited state during 2010-11
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 12 2011:
To give a boost to the Tourism Industry in the state, a Tourism Policy is soon to be initiated and implemented in the state.
A highly placed source from the Tourism department revealed that with the lifting of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) from the state the number of tourists visiting the state has increased manifold.
The Tourism department for the last many years has been trying to bring out a more effective Tourism Policy in the state.
As such a new Tourism Policy has been drafted and has been sent to the concern authority for its final approval.
The final approval will hopefully be done at the earliest possible time, the source said.
The source further said that if the Tourism Policy comes into force, it will not only help in boosting Tourism in the state but will also enhance the economic growth of the state.
With the lifting of PAP from the state, tourists from outside the country are able to visit the state without much difficulty.
At least up till now no unwanted incidents have happened to tourisst visiting the state.
PAP was lifted from the state by a notification of the state government (1/9(10)/99-H(PT) and was in force from 1st January 2011 .
According to the highly placed source, 1,17,083 tourist visited the state during the period from April 1, 2010 to 31st March 2011 .
Among these tourist 431 of them are foreigners from outside the country.
They are mainly from Germany, USA, France, Japan, Thailand, Canada, Nigeria, Korea and Italy etc.
The source said that even if PAP has been lifted from the state, there are still restrictions.
A foreigner from Afganistan, China and Pakistan has to take an approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs if want to
visit Manipur.