Red Tape Hinders Inbound In North Eastern States
By Subhash Narayan /New Delhi

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India will not involve itself in negotiations between the state governments of North Eastern states and the Centre for allowing entry or stay of foreigners in the region with the intention of touring. Sources say that rather than playing a proactive role, the ministry is only passing any information in this regard to the travel trade. “MoT has no role to play in permitting foreigners’ entry in restricted areas of the North-East. If states in the region want such permission, only the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) can help them. However, any decision can only be taken after analysing the security concerns,” said M P Bezbaruah, secretary tourism, Government of India.

When asked if MoT is aware of any such request made by states in the North East, Bezbaruah denied having any knowledge about the issue. Though, the ministry is maintaining a safe distance over the issue of foreigners’ entry to the North-East, it will monitor implementation of the guidelines framed by MHA for various agencies connected with tourist movement. The guidelines contain a list of obligations for the agencies to monitor foreign tourist movement in Nagaland. The issue of allowing foreigners as tourists into a few areas restricted for them at the moment has come to the forefront after the Centre granted permission to open few protected areas for foreigners for tourism in Nagaland. Sources have said that after the decision regarding Nagaland, several other northeastern states have also requested for a similar permission. At present if an overseas tourist wishes to visit NorthEast, he/she has to seek an entry permit from the MHA, which apart from procedural and administrative complexities also involves extra expense in terms of dollars. “If a tourist has to seek two visas, one for entering the country and another for visiting few areas unnecessarily declared as restricted, that also only for foreigners, no one will like to visit that place. If the government is interested in promoting tourism in the North East, restrictions will have to be removed. If to begin with, a few non-strategic areas within protected areas are opened up, it would definitely boost tourism in the region. Though overall tourism has grown in the region in the last few years, the growth rate remains sluggish. The growth is pathetic in case of overseas tourists visiting the region. Out of about six lakh tourists that visit the region annually, only a few thousand are foreigners. While in the year 1998, 2,395 foreigners visited the region, their numbers rose marginally to 3,086 in 1999. “The number of foreign tourists visiting Northeastern sates can be tripled in less than a year, if the government opens more restricted areas. In this regard, opening of few protected areas in Nagaland is a welcome decision. However, apart from opening such areas, the procedures relating to tourist movement should also be relaxed. We get several inquiries from FTOs about package for the North East, but current rules and regulations act as a hindrance for us to promote the region,” said a tour operator. The government has relaxed protected areas regime in Nagaland permitting entry or stay of foreigners in the state for tourism. As per the government order, few areas in the districts of Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchong and Wokha have been opened for foreign tourists. MHA has also prepared a detailed guideline on the obligations of various agencies viz. state government, TAs and TOs, guest houses and hotels, and MoT, for monitoring the movement of foreign tourist traffic in a regulated manner. The state government and Mot has also been entrusted with the task of monitoring these guidelines.