Agartala: Dec 09: The much-anticipated Tourism Promo Festival 2024 kicked off on December 9th at the scenic Rajghat on Rudrasagar Lake and within the Neermahal Palace. Organized by the State Tourism Department, the festival began with an inaugural event at Narkelkunj in Dumbur. The second event is being held at Rajghat in Melaghar and inside the Neermahal Palace. The inaugural ceremony at Rajghat concluded at 5:30 PM on a beautifully decorated stage, marking the official start of the festival.
The Tourism Minister of Tripura, Sushant Chowdhury, expressed immense enthusiasm and revealed plans to expand the festival in the coming years. He announced that from next year, cultural events and promo festivals would be organized at every tourist destination across the state. This initiative aims to encourage local participation and attract tourists from both within and outside the state, transforming small tourist destinations into major attractions. The minister emphasized that the state’s tourist destinations would undergo significant beautification in the next two years to enhance their appeal.
Minister Chowdhury highlighted that tourism management is emerging as a vital source of income after government jobs, with the potential to reduce unemployment in the state. He urged everyone to protect the state’s scattered tourist spots, as they are crucial for generating year-round income.
Secretary of the Tourism Department, Uttam Kumar Chakma, in his welcome speech, assured that various initiatives would be implemented in the next two years to diversify tourism in Tripura. He also shared that new boats would be introduced in Rudrasagar, similar to those on Dal Lake in Kashmir, to enhance water-based tourism. The tourism sector had already seen 6 lakh visitors last year, including 76,000 foreign tourists.
After the ceremony, a light and sound show was held at Neermahal, marking the third edition of the show, which had been discontinued after two successful runs. The show was met with great enthusiasm from the audience.