Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sanma has said the state has the potential to develop an international tourism circuit in collaboration with neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan,  Myanmar and Thailand because of its strategic location.

"This view had also been echoed during the Cherrapunjee Festival in December last year when representatives from the tourism industry of all eight northeastern states were present," added Mukul. After the deliberations, the state government, as well as tourism industry representatives, came to a consensus that tourists look at northeast as a single composite destination, he said. 

Emphasizing development of inter-state regional circuits, Mukul added that tourists were not guided by political boundaries but more by their own interest of visiting the maximum number of places in minimum time and within their budget. "Hence, promotion of inter-state circuits is essential in the interest of promoting tours within northeastern and eastern India," said the CM, who also holds the tourism portfolio.

"As far as Meghalaya is concerned we can explore development of regional circuits with states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura and even others if the connectivity is good," he said. He added that efforts to attract tourists in certain areas have been hampered by problems of connectivity.

Stating that this was true for all NE states, he stressed the need to develop a regional perspective in tourism development and to also plan in terms of inter-state and regional circuits. The CM said the North Eastern Council (NEC) has developed an integrated tourism master plan for the northeastern region. As many as 33 regional circuits and about six international circuits have been recommended for the region.

Two circuits - Guwahati-Tura-Balpakram-Tura-Manas-Guwahati and Dhaka-Dawki-Shillong - have already been identified for development, added Mukul.

TOI