Guwahati International Airport, also known as Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA), recently organized a workshop on role of the airport in the process of developing the tourism industry in Northeast India. The workshop was inaugurated by Jayanta Malla Baruah, Minister of Tourism, Government of Assam.
Baruah highlighted several initiatives taken by the Government of Assam to promote tourism in the region and expressed that with the dynamic leadership of Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has a strong vision for tourism in the NE region, it will flourish soon and the airport will eventually play a key role.
The workshop was attended by dignitaries from the tourism departments of the Northeastern states, including representatives from India Tourism, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya. Sher Khan, Deputy CEO of Adani Airport Holding Limited, Ahmedabad, Additional Chief Secretary Maninder Singh, and Ravi Shankar Prasad, Secretary Department of Industry and Tourism, were among others who spoke at the event.
Khan revealed airport data and explained how Guwahati Airport may plan new connectivity with other Indian cities and potential foreign destinations. He added that with his previous experience at the Changi Airport, Singapore, he believed that the airport contributed significantly to the development of tourism in the country.
Utpal Baruah, Chief Airport Officer, LGBI Airport, set the context of the workshop and spoke about the potential of Guwahati airport to become a regional hub where any citizen living in the region could travel to any Indian city and come back home within 24 hours. He also emphasized the importance of establishing international connectivity with Eastern countries, which would enable Indian citizens to travel to the East at a lower price and in less time.
The workshop also discussed the possibilities of roads and inland waterways to attract tourists. Additionally, it was proposed that Guwahati airport could bring about economic prosperity by transporting unique products of the Northeast such as tea, rice, vegetables, spices, fruits, and more.
Overall, the workshop provided a platform to discuss strategies and initiatives to develop the tourism industry in Northeast India, with a particular focus on the role of Guwahati Airport. With the support of the Government of Assam and industry leaders, the region has the potential to become a popular tourist destination in the coming years.
