This district headquarter town of Arunachal Pradesh, Tawang, bordering China wore a refurbished look for the three-day International Tourism Mart (ITM) beginning here tomorrow.
This is the second edition of ITM after the first one was conducted at Guwahati on January 19 to 21, 2012.
"We are fully prepared and all arrangements are complete for the event," Arunachal's Tourism Minister Pema Khandu said, adding that hoteliers, tour operators and officials of 22 countries besides the representatives of eight North East states and West Bengal have arrived.
The success of ITM-2012 at Guwahati led to the hosting of this edition at Tawang, known as last Shangri La on earth, Khandu said, and expressed confidence that all the delegates and participants would go back with unforgettable memories.
"We are 100 per cent ready," said tourism secretary Sonam Chombey.
Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, who would inaugurate the event tomorrow as chief guest arrived here today.
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Union tourism secretary Parvez Dewan leading a high level team of the ministry arrived here yesterday to conduct the global event. Other ministry officers included tourism additional secretary Giri Shankar, additional deputy director general A K Gupta, deputy director general Meenakshi Mehta, director Mamta Kochar, among others.
Khandu, Toruism Parliamentary Secretary P D Sona and Chombey along with the officers of the tourism department headed by director Taru Talo, officers of the state government and district administration were on their toes to ensure everything was in place. Festivity was in the air while all the 30+ private hotels with about 350 capacities and five state government accommodation were fully occupied, said Tawang deputy commissioner Abhisek Dev.
In all ten cultural troupes from eight NE states and West Bengal comprising 87 members choreographed by Dr Prasanna Gogoi, NEZCC, union cultural ministry would present the rich cultural mosaic to the delegates and participants during the three days.