Exclusive: India throws open Arunachal to tourists

VISIT ARUNACHAL: The new destinations being thrown open includes monastery towns Monpas and Tawang.

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Keywords: Foreginers, Tourism Ministry

New Delhi: The Indian Government wants to tell the world that it is not worried by China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh and so, it's opening up the state in a big way and inviting foreign tourists.

It is the Tourism Ministry's way of doing it bit to send the message that no one can question India's sovereignty in Arunachal Pradesh.

After Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's very important trip to Arunachal Pradesh two months ago, the Home Ministry has eased restrictions on foreign tourists there and the message is clear — "visit Arunachal. Eveything is normal there and the picturesque state is an integral part of India".

The Tourism Ministry also has a new tagline: Visit the unexplored paradise of India.

Jonit-Secretary, Tourism Ministry, Leena Nandan says, "The Ministry is enthused with this. We had been asking for this for a long time. It was a long felt need.''

The new guidelines are:

• Foreignors can now stay in Arunachal for a month. Earlier their visit was restricted to 10 days at a time.
• They can now go in small batches of two instead of four.
• Most of the new tourist circuits being opened up are right on the Sino-Indian border.

Leena Nandan says, "Allowing tourists into sensitive tucked away areas makes it a never before experience.''

The new destinations being thrown open includes the monastery towns of Monpas and Tawang, with an international convention center and a wellness park.

Other circuits include the border locations of Mechuka, Pasighat, Tuting, Nacho and Seppa. Not just that, the Government has allocated Rs 100 crore for developing the destinations.

With this decision and monetary grant, New Delhi is sending out a strong signal to China, which is perhaps greatly timed with the Dalai Lama accepting Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu's invitation to inaugurate a hospital in Tawang in the latter part of 2008.

For Arunachal though, this will only be a new beginning.