Two important projects under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India were inaugurated at PTSO Lake in Tawang of Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday.
These projects are Development of North East Circuits: Bhalukpong- Bomdila – Tawang Project and Nafra- Seppa- Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota- New Sagalee- Ziro- Yomcha Project.
The projects were jointly inaugurated by Union Minister of State (IC) Tourism, K J Alphons; Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu and Arunachal Minister for Tourism, Jarkar Gamlin.
Speaking on the occasion, K J Alphons said that the efforts of Union Tourism Ministry have shown positive results and the foreign tourist arrivals in the region have shown an upward trend over the years.
The region received a total of 1.69 lakh foreign tourist visits during 2017 as against 1.45 lakh in 2016 registering a growth of 16.7 per cent over 2016.
The domestic tourist visits reached to 95.47 lakhs in the year 2017 against 77.71 lakhs registering impressive double digit growth of 22.8 per cent over 2016.
The Tourism Minister added that the increased number of tourists in turn has created better employment opportunity for the local population in the region.
The project Development of Bhalukpong- Bomdila – Tawang was sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism in March 2015 for Rs 49.77 Crores.
Under this project, the Ministry has developed facilities like Accommodation, Cafeteria, wayside Amenities, last Mile Connectivity, Pathways, Toilets, Multipurpose Hall at Jang, Sorang Monastery, Lumpo, Zemithang, Bumla Pass, Gritsang TSO lake, PTSO Lake, Thingbu and Grenkha Hot Spring, Lumla, Sela Lake.
The project development of Nafra- Seppa- Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota- New Sagalee- Ziro- Yomcha was sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism in December 2015 for Rs 97.14 Crores.
The facilities developed under this project includes Helipad, Wayside amenities, trekking trails, Rafting Centre, Log Huts, craft bazaar, Eco Park, Tourist facilitation centres, parking, multipurpose Hall, festival ground etc.