Natural beauty, wildlife, handicraft, culture and food - the northeast region boasts abundant vibrancy and diversity to attract domestic and foreign tourists. With the decline in insurgent activities, the region is witnessing a rise in tourist inflows.
Efforts are on to attract more foreign tourists, especially from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan.
Recently, a 15-member delegation from Bangladesh was in Agartala to participate in Maitri Tourism 2014 - a four-day-long tourism road show that aimed to promote tourism between India and Bangladesh.
The show was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Foundation for Tourism Development and the Tripura Tourism Development Forum.
"Tripura is now a peaceful state, and it is rich in natural beauty, religious, historical and archaeological properties. Bangladesh also has those things. So, in between Bangladesh, Tripura and the North Eastern region, there is a good scope for the development of the tourism sector." Subhas Das, Secretary, Tourism.
A seminar on sub-regional tourism circuit linking the north eastern states with Bangladesh and Myanmar was also held, wherein policy makers and various stakeholders discussed ways to further develop the industry.
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The road show is expected to encourage cost-effective cross border tourism and popularise land routes between Dhaka and Agartala.
"What we are trying to do here in Tripura and Bangladesh is that we are telling the tourists coming in that this is the cheapest place to visit. Someone from Dhaka who wants to go to bazaar has to spend at least 3000 Takas whereas if they come to Tripura they invest only 5-600 Takas.I will appreciate if the government makes visa system easier so that we can send in more people," H M Hakim Ali, President, Bangladesh Foundation for Tourism Development.
There is a huge potential for development of tourism in the North East region and its proximity to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar can be of great benefit.
The growth of the tourism sector will also help in employment generation for locals and promote economic development of the region.