The Centre has invested Rs 560 crore for developing tourism in the North-East during the 11th plan period but the region is yet to be a major tourist destination, the Union Minister of State for Tourism, K Chiranjeevi today said.

Addressing a press conference after inaugurating the first International Tourism Mart here, Chiranjeevi said the North-Eastern region has immense untapped tourism potential and the sector will be developed into an institution with investment by the Centre very soon.

“We have to develop quality infrastructure and the main focus should be on adventure tourism,” Chiranjeevi, who is on his maiden visit to the state, said.

“We have identified hotel management projects in these states and the unused airports and helipads will be made operational soon to promote tourism,” he said.

The Mart, the first such international tourist event to be organised in the region in which 79 foreign delegates have participated was a ‘welcome sign’, he said.

The ministry of tourism releases domestic television campaigns besides providing space on complimentary basis to the states in the country’s pavilions in major international travel fairs, including the World Travel market in London and Berlin, the minister said referring to the Centre’s efforts to promote tourism in the region.

The ministry has also launched promotional campaigns on themes ‘Find What You Seek’ and ‘Go Beyond’ to help promote the diverse and lesser known destinations of different regions, he said.

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