Tourism can help counter Maoism: Selja
March 6th, 2010 - 7:45 pm ICT by IANSPanaji, March 6 (IANS) Tourism can be effectively used to counter the rising trend of Maoism, union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said Saturday.
Addressing reporters after inaugurating the regional conference of tourism ministers of the western states and union territories here, she also underlined the importance of tourism in the relatively underdeveloped regions of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
“Naxalism (Maoism) is an issue in many states. If we promote tourism in these areas, people will turn to job opportunities rather than turning to Naxalism,” Selja said, adding that even the central government was keen on promoting tourism in the Maoist-affected regions.
“The more we increase tourism in the states which are affected by the problem, the more opportunities for the people,” Selja said, adding that opening up the Maoist-hit states for tourism would stand to benefit both the state and the people.
Tourism ministers from Maoist-hit states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra were a part of the western region conference.
Earlier in her inaugural speech, Selja also stressed on innovative rural tourism projects, which were aimed at strengthening skilled rural artisan communities in association with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“Under this initiative, we have identified 158 rural sites,” she said.
Selja, while advocating the concept of eco-tourism, also stressed on the importance of afforestation and better forest and environment management practices.
- Government committed to promoting sustainable tourism: Minister - Jul 27, 2010
- National helpline for safety of tourists in offing - Mar 06, 2010
- Jairam for tribal-friendly development to fight Maoists - Jan 25, 2012
- Funds no problem for Maoist-hit areas: Jairam Ramesh - Jan 16, 2012
- Government to attact more tourists to northeast: Minister - Nov 19, 2011
- Land acquisition bill draft in public domain soon: Ramesh - Jul 27, 2011
- Chhattisgarh plans Rs.8-crore media blitz to rid 'naxal' tag - Dec 30, 2011
- PM to review development strategy in Maoist areas - Sep 10, 2011
- Ban mining in forest areas: Jairam Ramesh - Dec 03, 2011
- Mamata's sops to 'turn Darjeeling into Switzerland' - Oct 11, 2011
- Development plans in Maoist districts to be revised: Chidambaram - Aug 07, 2010
- Learn from Andhra on job scheme, Ramesh tells Orissa - Aug 14, 2011
- Maoists killed 62 civilians, 11 cops in November: Chidambaram - Nov 30, 2010
- Bihar alerts officials in Maoist-hit areas - Feb 19, 2011
- Hundreds line up for Jharkhand police recruitment camp - Mar 03, 2011
Tags: andhra pradesh, central government, importance of afforestation, inaugural speech, karnataka, kumari, madhya pradesh, maharashtra, management practices, maoism, maoist, panaji, regional conference, rural tourism, tourism minister, tourism projects, underdeveloped regions, union territories, united nations development, united nations development programme