The Ministry of Tourism attaches utmost importance to the development and promotion of tourism in the North Eastern Region through its various plan schemes. It extends financial assistance to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations including the States of the North Eastern Region, for tourism related projects which are identified every year in consultation and interaction with them under the following schemes.

1.                  Product Infrastructure Development of Destinations/Circuits

2.                  Assistance to Large Revenue Generating Projects

3.                  Information Technology

4.                  Fairs/Festival and Events

The Ministry of Tourism, as a part of its promotional activities releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country including the North East Region. Besides, North East specific media campaigns are launched to promote the entire North East Region. The Ministry of Tourism provides complimentary space to the North Eastern States in India pavilions set up at major international travel fairs & exhibitions.  Further, In relaxation of CCS (LTC) Rules 1988, the Government has decided to permit Government servants to travel by air to North Eastern Region on LTC as follows:-

(i)                Group A and Group B Central Government employees will be entitled to travel by Air from their place of posting or nearest airport to a city in the NER or nearest airport.

(ii)             Other categories of employees will be entitled to travel by air to a city in the NER from Guwahati or Kolkata.

(iii)           All Central Government employees will be allowed conversion of one block of Home Town LTC into LTC for destinations in NER.

               Development, promotion and utilization of funds given by the Ministry of Tourism for tourism projects are primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.  The details of the funds earmarked for the development of Tourism in NER during the Eleventh Five Year Plan vis-à-vis releases made by the Ministry of Tourism (upto 31.10.2011) are as under:

This information was given by the Minister of State of Tourism, Shri Sultan Ahmed in a written reply in Rajya Sabha  today.

Samir/kd