Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today said a total number of 19,358 domestic and foreign tourists visited the state in the last three years.
Responding to a question from BJP member Gabriel D Wangsu regarding creation of tourist circuits for Tirap and Longding districts during Question Hour in the state Assembly, Khandu said during 2014 a total number of 6,307 tourists visited the state, while 6,453 visited in 2015 and in 2016, 6,598 tourists visited the state.
In reply to a supplementary question, the Chief Minister said creation of tourist circuits were under the purview of the Union Home Ministry.
A tourist circuit encompassing Margherita-Jairampur, Nampong-Manmao-Pangsau Pass had been opened recently in Changlang district, while the Centre was considering opening more routes in Tirap and Longding districts, he said.
"The Centre has introduced new a development scheme, which will be considered for Longding," he said, adding a proposal for Guwahati-Balemu-Shergaon-Rupa route would be forwarded to the Centre for consideration.
BJP MLA Wangling Lowangdong, who is also from Tirap district, said though Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts have immense tourism potential, the state government was not taking up the issue with the Centre.
"When Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland have been encouraging tourism despite being declared as disturbed areas under the Armed Forces Special Power(s) Act, why is the Arunachal Pradesh government taking up the matter with the Centre to promote tourism in these three insurgency affected districts which come under the AFSPA?" he asked.
Senior BJP member Japu Deru and Thangwang Wangham also participated in the discussion.
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