Kaziranga National Park in Assam, one the most famous of its type in the world, has been attracting huge number of tourists already after it was opened for the season two weeks back. Tourists from different parts of the world are already flocking in numbers to visit the National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is to be mentioned that the opening of Kaziranga National Park for this tourist season was pre-poned from November 1 to October 28. Since then, it has been almost impossible to get a berth in any decent lodge or resort, sources claim.

The tourist season is expected to gain peak momentum during December and January. Apart from the holiday season of Christmas, New Year and Assamese celebration of Magh Bihu, the Kaziranga Elephant festival has been attracting huge number of foreign tourists every year.

The locals are excited about the good start to the tourist season. Owners of different vehicles providing Jeep Safaris, lodge owners and local businessmen are rejoicing the good start and are attributing it to the recent developments in the security scenario in the state over the last few years.

Apart from Kaziranga National Park,  Manas National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary were declared open for tourist on November 5. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary which has a sizable population of one-horned Rhinos is getting a boost in its number of tourists visited. In fact, Government reports have suggested the count to have increased by 16 times in the last decade. Manas national park, another World Heritage Site is getting a good start as well.

It must also be mentioned that the North East of India has recorded the highest growth of tourism in India in the last year. This is both with foreign and domestic tourists. The growth rate in foreign tourist rate in the North East in 2010-11 was 6.09 per cent, while in the domestic sector the rate was 8.09 per cent. This is much higher compared to the all India rate of 7 per cent.

Times of Assam