Tripura’s Narikelkunja area and Jampui Hills in North district have immense tourism potentiality owing to its picturesque sceneries. Taping into this factor the State Government has decided to reintroduce homestays and formulate a policy regarding the matter, informed Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury.
The Manik Saha Government has initially planned to open 11 and four homestays respectively at Narikelkunja area and Jampui Hills. While Narikelkunja area is dotted with numerous mini and scattered islands filled with coconut plantations, mainly around man-made Dumbur Lake, exuding ambience of Kerala’s back water, Jampui Hills are popular for its orange plantations.
Homestays, once popular for staycation and drawing large number of tourists for a decade from 90s, suffered drastically after farmers started choosing rubber, arecanut and coffee for cultivation. Popularity of Jampui Hills’ homestays dropped due to other local issues.
After getting approval of Rs 30 crores for the first phase, under the DoNER Ministry’s Northeast Special Infrastructure Development Scheme, other plans include building 10 additional log huts in Chhabimura taking the total number to 51, to beautify the islands of Chittapara, Amulyasadhanpara, Twins Island near Narikelkunja.
Besides, the Dumbur lake area will boost of houseboats, accompanied by infrastructure upgrades in notable sites such as the Chaturdash Devata temple and Kasba Kali temple, all supported by financial backing from the Asian Development Bank or ADB.
The appointment of former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly as the brand ambassador for Tripura tourism in October of the previous year has notably strengthened the State Government’s tourism figures and subsequent revenue, stated Chowdhury.
Sharing statistics on tourist visits and revenue across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 fiscal years, Chowdhury disclosed that from October to December 2022, the State welcomed 84,217 tourists, including 5,964 foreigners, generating revenue of Rs 1.02 crore (Rs 1,02,10,000).
In the corresponding period of 2023-24, the State saw a substantial rise in tourist arrivals, totalling over 1.55 lakh, with 19,614 being foreign tourists, resulting in revenue of Rs 1.23 crore (Rs 1,23,13,000).
“These figures highlight a significant surge in tourist influx following Sourav Ganguly’s association with Tripura tourism. We anticipate further growth in tourist numbers in the future,” the minister remarked.
