Dancers perform a Karbi folk number at Mayong on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Sept. 27: World Tourism day brought some welcome news for Assam, in the form of a Rs 40-crore boost from the Centre to develop tourism circuits.

Tourism minister Rockybul Hussain announced this on the occasion of World Tourism Day in the city today.

Hussain said following the Centre’s advice, the Assam state government submitted a list of four circuits, for which the former will release the funds.The four circuits comprise Dhubri-Mahamaya-Hajo-Barpeta, Barak Valley and the two hill districts, Upper Assam and Guwahati.

The minister said Rs 4.98 crore has already been released for the Dhubri-Mahamaya-Hajo-Barpeta circuit and the rest of the money will be coming soon.

He also released a coffee table book on Karbi Anglong tourism, published by the Karbi Anglong district administration.

He said the tourism budget of Assam has been increased from Rs 4.28 crore to Rs 12 crore, indicatingthe government’s interest in developing tourism.

“We will have to create a congenial atmosphere for increasing the flow of tourists,” Hussain said.

He said tourist infrastructure, that will be completed by March next year, is being developed at Majuli, Manas and Pobitora.

The minister said it is time to know the different reasons which inhibit tourism in the state.

“What troubles me is the reduced number of domestic tourists,” Hussain said.

The number of domestic tourists who visited Assam this year is 32 lakh while the number of foreign tourists is 11,000.

Sri Lanka is this year’s host nation for World Tourism Day.