Chief minister Tarun Gogoi has ambitious plans to give a boost to tourism in the state, which has been affected by the insurgency that plagued Assam for the past four decades. One of them is a golf course right on the outskirts of the city in the Chandrapur-Sonapur area. The chief minister himself is an ardent golfer.

Gogoi, who also holds the finance portfolio, unveiled his tourism plans while presenting the state budget for 2012-13 in the house on Monday.

Capping his tourism plans, Gogoi proposed exemption of hotels with a tariff of less than Rs 1,000 from luxury tax. Tariff between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000 would attract luxury tax of five per cent, Rs 2,000-3,000 eight per cent and tariff above Rs 3,000 would attract a luxury tax of 12 per cent as per a report in TOI by Prabin Kalita.

The rationalization of the hotel room rates would mean loss of revenue to the tune of Rs 3 crore per annum, but Gogoi is determined to "encourage tourism" with the tax exemptions.

"Major emphasis has been given to development and promotion of tourism in this budget. Tourism, with the highest employment-capital ratio, is the fastest growing industry in the world. With restoration of peace and normalcy in the state, high priority has been accorded to creation of tourism infrastructure and other related facilities to attract a larger number of foreign as well as domestic tourists," Gogoi said in the budget presentation.

Allotting Rs 42.75 crore under the general areas annual plan for tourism for the next fiscal, Gogoi said this amount would be supplemented by additional funding from the Centre, theNorth Eastern Council, the 13{+t}{+h} Finance Commission grant and other sources.

The chief minister's plans to attract tourists include a proposal for setting up a 'mini Assam' at Sonapur on the outskirts of the city at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore. "This ambitious project will be a mini representation of the diverse and composite culture of Assam," Gogoi stated.

Gogoi also proposed development of several tourist circuits, including a pilgrim circuit and a mega wildlife circuit covering all the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the state.