Guwahati, March 2: The Assam government is chalking out a tourism policy to encourage involvement of private sector and strengthen public-private partnership.

Director of Assam tourism, S.P. Kakoti Bora, said the proposed policy would cover all aspects of growth and promote steps necessary for involvement of private sector.

He said tourist inflow in the state has increased in the past few years. Citing statistics, he said domestic tourists visiting Assam have increased from 10.1 lakh in 2001 to 22.86 lakh in 2004 while the number of foreign tourists have increased from 6,171 to 7,285 during the same period.

To bring in the private sector, the government will give incentives for tourism projects, rationalise luxury tax and other fees, provide capital subsidy for preparation of techno-economic and feasibility reports, allot land for setting up projects and give training and manpower assistance for setting up joint venture projects.

Bora said a masterplan and marketing strategy for tourism would also be chalked out to market Assam outside.

Bora said a new innovative scheme, the chief minister?s self-help tourism scheme, has been initiated in association with the State Bank of India to involve the educated unemployed in the tourism sector.

Officials are hoping that within the next two years, about 100 small and viable tourism projects will be set up by groups, comprising five to nine youths. This would help in generating employment for about 2,500 people.

The officials said the state tourism ministry has engaged the Indian Tourism Development Corporation to develop a wildlife circuit, covering the wildlife sanctuaries of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The projects being implemented at present include a Rs 3.82-crore heritage and eco-tourism project at Majuli and a Rs 3.84-crore tourist arrival-cum-reception centre at Paltan Bazar in Guwahati.

Facilities for accommodation have been created at important tourist spots like Sivasagar, Majuli, Barpeta, Hajo and Pabitora. Besides, wayside amenity centres have been set up in both government and private sectors.