NE trade to aid MOT

Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, MOT, says that they have constituted a committee of stakeholders who will be instrumental in promoting the Northeast region.

Nisha Verma

The newly-constituted committee of stakeholders in the Northeast met for the first time and deliberated on a strategy to promote tourism in the region. Chaired by Rupinder Brar, the meeting was held on March 19 at Radisson Blu Guwahati. “The Northeast region of the country is a relatively lesser-explored region and given the thrust on infrastructure that the government has put in, we have created a small dedicated group of people to work in the Northeast. We brought in people who would help us craft itineraries and small promotional campaigns for the Northeast, in the months to come,” she says.

Domestic gets boost

Brar adds that there has been similar interest in Jammu & Kashmir as well. “Gulmarg is exhibiting full hotels and even Srinagar has been exhibiting a fair response. We understand that there is a lot more that we need to showcase and webinars are being planned on that front. Events will be hosted once the weather gets better. The same goes for Leh and Ladakh. We will be hosting boutique events, keeping in mind that COVID is still lurking and hence we need to be respectful of protocols. There is a lot more focus on adventure as well,” she adds.

Brar says that a lot of events on the domestic front are already happening, such as the ADTOI Convention in Kevadia, the ITM, a three-day workshop for homestay owners of Darjeeling on capacity building and scaling up of operations, and the recent unveiling of India@75 at Sabarmati Ashram.

International marketing

Brar shares that the global media plan, which Ministry of Tourism crafts every year, is already underway. “We are trying to bring in more countries, such as Latin American nations. There will also be more focus on the ASEAN and APAC regions,” she says.

Industry status for hotels in all states

Hoping that the hospitality sector is given an industry status in all states, Brar says, “It is a state subject and therefore, as a Ministry, we have been advocating this at all levels. The Minister has also reached out to all the state governments to accord industry status, and we are glad that some states are coming forth with it. We hope that other states will also take cue and accord an industry status to the sector.”