Tourism Minister, Pasang Dorjee Sona launched the new tourism policy of Arunachal Pradesh in New Delhi (Photo: India & You)
With a focus on experiential tourism and to attract greater investments in the tourism industry in the state, the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh has adopted a new logo as well as a new tourism policy.
Pasang Dorjee Sona
This was announced by Pasang Dorjee Sona, Minister of Tourism, Arunachal Pradesh in New Delhi on Wednesday. In his address on the occasion, Sona said that the new policy marks a strategic shift towards positioning the state as an experiential tourism destination for both domestic and international travellers, while the new logo symbolises a fresh approach to promoting the state’s diverse travel experiences.
“We want to promote almost everything which we have got, but we are promoting key areas, in terms of destinations as we don’t want to spread all across and finally end up with no visibility. We are promoting Mechuka now, it is one of the new destinations which is coming up. So that way we want to move from one destination to another destination. So, we focus our time, energy and resources in one. And make it fully visible and ready for the tourists. Then move to other ones. And at the same time, the entire Arunachal tourism will be taken,” Sona tells India & You.
In his address during the launch, the minister said that the new policy places a strong emphasis on experiential tourism, with particular attention to fields like adventure, film, ecotourism, farm tourism, wine tourism, wellness and spiritual tourism, MICE tourism, border tourism, and tribal tourism, and that this all-inclusive strategy seeks to provide visitors with a fully immersive experience by utilising the state’s pristine landscapes, vibrant tribal culture, and distinctive biodiversity.
The launch also highlighted that the government intends to invest in skill development in order to support this vision. “Pre-eminent institutions such as the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) and the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) will work together to train small business owners and local guides. The policy’s main goal is to attract investment by establishing district-level land banks for tourism projects, which can be accessed via the state’s tourism website,” says Mopi Mihu, Advisor to Minister for Tourism.
The new policy also mentions that digital marketing, social media interaction, and event-based promotions will all be used as part of a multi-channel promotional strategy to increase visibility.
“Arunachal Pradesh is home to a diverse range of tribal customs and cultures, each with its own unique viewpoint and way of life. The new branding is an invitation to discover a deeply enlightening side of India that has not yet been discovered,” says Manjunath R, Director, Department of Tourism.
The government is now anticipating a 10-fold increase in foreign arrivals and a doubling of domestic tourist foot traffic.
Ranphoa Ngowa
“Approximately 860,000 tourists visited Arunachal Pradesh last year. With 1.38 million people living in the state according to the 2011 census, we want to raise this figure considerably. The 16th Annual Convention of ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators Association of India) in Tawang and the Femina Miss India calendar launch with the Times Group are just two of the successful events we have recently hosted. Important locations like Tawang, Namsai, Anini, and Ziro are highlighted by these initiatives. With Mechuka being named the best mountain destination, we are optimistic that visitor numbers will increase over time. This expansion is also being aided by better facilities and increased knowledge of the financial advantages of tourism,” Ranphoa Ngowa, Secretary, Department of Tourism, tells India & You.