The Assam tourism stall at the New Delhi fair. Picture by Prem Singh

New Delhi, Dec. 9: The Assam government’s lackadaisical and ad hoc efforts towards promoting tourism came as a shock to visitors at the tourism stall in the Assam Pavilion at the recently-concluded India International Trade Fair here.

So incensed was Assam governor Lt Gen. (retd) Ajai Singh with the shabby appearance of the stall and its shoddy arrangements that he immediately shot off a letter to the department.

A few improvements were, naturally, ushered in after that. But sample this: There was no visitor’s book at the stall.

A sum of Rs 1.75 lakh was earmarked for tourism at the fair but four contractors were given the contract for the stall, usually done by one.

Assam Dooars Roadways was promised immediate payment for the transportation of posters and banners in New Delhi but nothing has transpired so far.

“Had we decided not to assist the department, there would have been anything to put on the wall. We have not been paid the amount yet,” said Pawan Agarwal, an official of Assam Dooars Roadways.

Officials in the department said tourism is the most neglected sector in Dispur. “A very meagre amount is allotted to the tourism department. So what can officials do? How can there be an impressive stall?” an official replied, when asked by the governor the reasons behind the poor show. And this, when tourism has been declared a theme for the year at the trade fair.

The annual budget, which has been just Rs 4.5 crore for the two last fiscal years, is less than one per cent of the state’s annual budget.

“The fact that tourism can change the face of the state is yet to be grasped. Even a state like Meghalaya has a higher budget than ours,” rued an official, citing the impact of the sector in Sikkim and Goa to buttress his point.

Since 1997, the total number of tourists visiting Assam hovered around a million, with a minuscule number of foreign tourists. The official claimed that the total inflow can be increased at least “five times” with a bit of “pragmatic handling” of the sector and “foresight” on the part of the policymakers.

A policy on tourism was prepared twice, in 1987 and 1992, but it is yet to see the light of day. The Assam Development Report, which was brought out last year, said the lack of a policy has resulted in tourism remaining in the “domain of ad hocism.”

Minister of state for tourism Ajanta Neog had said in January that the “urgency” of a policy has been realised and that a draft is being prepared. But 11 months later there’s still no sign of a policy.