MoS Suresh Gopi visits Tripura, asks state to focus on tourism

The minister said Tripura has immense scope of development in the tourism sector and it can pave employment opportunities for the youths. “The youths need to be encouraged to become self-dependent through tourism. Mudra loan can play a vital role here. If the young generation come forward, Tripura, too, will be benefitted,” he said at the meeting.

He also urged the state to come forward with a competitive mindset and advised to utilise time properly from September to March as it has been identified as the peak tourism months in Tripura.

During this period, Gopi advised to organise different food and cultural events at different villages and involve different other states in them.

“If any renowned national-level player can be involved in such events, it will become livelier. The move will help boost tourism in the state and simultaneously enhance the revenue,” he added.

“Tripura can be marked as a model in the entire country if the state approaches in this direction,” he said.

He also advised to ensure protection of the environment and keep proper arrangement in the sites of tourism for visitors.

In the meeting, Tripura Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said that the state is following directions of the Centre.

Later, highlighting different activities of the Tourism department, Prashant Badal Negi, managing director of Tourism Development Nigam, said there has been enhancement in the number of tourists in the state.

As per Tourism department reports, Tripura saw 5,45,299 tourists in 2023-24, among whom over 4.69 lakh were domestic while the rest were foreign tourists. The figures were higher than 2022-23, when 2,84,836 tourists came to the state of whom over 2.49 lakhs were domestic while the rest were foreign tourists.

After the meeting, Gopi visited the Agartala-Akhaura International Check Post (ICP) and had a meeting with ONGC officials.