Assam’s new tourism policy: Come, shoot films in state, get up to Rs 1 crore as incentive!

Sarma said the BJP-led government was looking at films in Hindi, English and foreign languages as an important medium to carry an invitation to tourists worldwide to visit Assam. “Cinema is a very strong medium, and we are sure also willing to provide free accommodation and transportation to important actors of films made by reputed directors and producers,” Sarma said.

The new tourism policy which will become effective from January 2018 and remain valid for five years, has also offered major subsidies to those investing in the tourism sector. “Those investing Rs 1 crore and above in tourist lodges, hotels, resorts and floating restaurants will get a 30 per cent capital investment subsidy, with a ceiling of Rs 1 crore. Moreover, we will also reimburse 50 per cent of the State GST for 10 years,” the minister said.

Priyanka Chopra as brand ambassador

Sarma also released a series of promos featuring India’s topmost Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra intended to be aired through television channels as also through various digital platforms highlighting various tourist attractions of Assam. “Priyanka Chopra has signed up as brand ambassador for Assam Tourism, and given her popularity, we are expecting a huge response from tourists world over,” Sarma said.

This campaign featuring Chopra, which is called ‘Awesome Assam’, will be on air from November 1, while a series of road shows in various European and South Asian countries are in the pipeline to attract investors to the state, he said. “Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will himself take part in some of these road shows,” Sarma said.

The promos, ranging from 60 seconds to three minutes, feature Priyanka Chopra wearing traditional muga – Assam’s unique golden silk – and dancing bihu, while visuals of Kaziranga National Park with its one-horned rhinoceros, the majestic Brahmaputra, the Majuli island, lush-green tea estates, various dance forms like Satriya and Baguroomba pass by.

The tourism policy also provides for several awards in categories lie best infrastructure, best women entrepreneur, best start-up, best innovative project, best maintained tourist facility, cleanest tourist destination, cleanest roadside dhaba, best ICT project on Assam tourism, best warden of wildlife destinations, best photo journalist, he said.

The new tourism policy also wants to make community participation and job creation a new focus area, with the state government already launching a scheme to support home-stay facilities in some select popular tourist destinations like Kaziranga and Majuli.

“The new tourism policy has been prepared in consonance with seven other new policies our government has recently approved as Guwahati prepares for hosting a Global Investors Summit in February next year. Moreover, we also intend to take the maximum advantage of the prime minister’s Act East Policy which envisages making Assam and the Northeast the epicenter of economic activities between India and South-east Asia,” minister Sarma said.