The Hindu : Business : Hotels in Northeast to get 'industry' status

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 05, 2006

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Hotels in Northeast to get 'industry' status

Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI: Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni on Tuesday announced that the Centre would accord `industry' status to hotels coming up in Northeastern States to promote tourism.

Ms. Soni said the Ministry of Tourism would impress upon the Ministry of Finance to provide tax incentives to small entrepreneurs to set up budget hotels in the region to attract more tourists.

Speaking to reporters after two days of review of tourism related projects in the region in a conference of tourism and culture ministers of northeast, Ms Soni announced that the Ministry would "very favourably'' consider a proposal by the Assam Government for setting up of an Institute of Hotel Management here.

Tourism promotion

She said that her ministry would impress upon the State governments of the region the need to allow private players in a transparent manner to utilise the government inspection bungalows and circuit houses for accommodation of tourists.

Earlier on Monday the Union Minister, while addressing the review meeting, said the budget allocation for tourism in the Northeast could be increased from the existing Rs. 83 crore if viable projects were submitted by the State governments.

On steps being initiated to promote domestic tourism in the region, Ms. Soni said cultural festivals of the Northeast would be organised in different State capitals outside the region on an annual basis.

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