MNS: The Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, organized a familiarization (FAM) tour for the officers of Tourism Departments of the North-Eastern States in Guwahati, Gangtok & Kolkata from 9th to 14th April, 2012. Team Manipur was led by Shri KK Chhetry, Commissioner, Tourism, Govt of Manipur along with Dr K. Shyamsunder Singh, Deputy Director, Tourism and Shri Rajeshor Thoudam, Architect of Tourism Department. All the NE States participated except for Nagaland and Tripura.
\nThe objective of the FAM Tour was to familiarize the participants to the tourism related products, destinations, best practices of the States of Assam, Sikkim and West Bengal, and interaction with the local tour operators and the hoteliers.
\nIn Guwahati, visits were organized to Hotel Kiranshree Portico, Kalakshetra, Silpagram, Hotel Grandeur and Mainland China Restaurant. Shri Subodh Kant Sahay, Union Tourism Minister also met with the NE Tourism Officials and inaugurated the largest river cruise vessel in India, the \u201cMahabaahu\u201d on the Brahmaputra River. Few 5 star category hotels are coming up in the near future too.
\nIn Gangtok, visits were organized to Denzong Regency and Mayfair Resort (a 5 star deluxe) and meeting and interaction with the State Government, hoteliers and tour operators. The cleanliness and peace of Gangtok were astonishing niche products of tourism.
\nIn Kolkata, the hotel industry has taken a quantum leap. Sites visited the Taj Bengal and various heritage places. Best practices involving ecotourism were studied.
\nTeam Manipur successfully showcased the USPs with regard to culture, sports and nature based tourism and made a fervent appeal to the tour operators to include Manipur in their tour and travel itineraries as tourism in India cannot grow without Manipur in particular and NE in general.<\/p>\n\n