ICC Hosts Pivotal Session On Advancing Sustainable Tourism In Assam

Guwahati: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) held a landmark event under its ‘ICC Guest of the Month’ initiative at the NEDFi Conference Hall, Guwahati, focusing on advancing sustainable and accessible tourism in Assam. The session featured John Berchmans Ekka, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary for Panchayat & Rural Development, Tea Tribes Welfare, and Tourism, Government of Assam.

Themed ‘Advancing Sustainable and Accessible Development through Cross-Border, Eco, Cultural Heritage, Rural, Wildlife, Culinary, Music, Film, Health, Wellness, Adventure, and Sports Tourism,’ the session served as a collaborative platform for stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs.

Discussions On Range Of Transformative Ideas

The discussion covered a range of transformative ideas. Stakeholders proposed stronger partnerships with airlines, promotion of cultural and culinary tourism via indigenous festivals, and support for adventure tourism entrepreneurs. Suggestions included marketing Assam’s unique textiles, promoting micro-tourism activities like trekking and angling, and creating dedicated online homestay platforms.

The session also explored integrating eco-tourism with community-driven projects, enhancing wildlife and heritage tourism, and leveraging international platforms for promotion. Innovative ideas such as medical tourism, golf tours, and road trips were highlighted, while Umrangso’s potential as a festival destination received significant interest.

Mr. Sunil Saraf, Chairman of the ICC NER Tourism & Hospitality Committee Assam, opened the session with a welcoming address, highlighting Assam’s potential as a global tourism hub. Dr. Ekka shared valuable insights into the state’s tourism strategies, emphasizing government incentives, sustainability measures, and the role of public-private collaboration in boosting growth. He commended ICC’s efforts to bridge the gap between industry and government to drive innovation and actionable solutions.

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Suhale Nadeem Quddus, Senior Assistant Director of ICC, concluded the session with a vote of thanks, appreciating the support of session partners Pushpak Air Travels, Konoka Village Resort, and Mystic Mayong - A Unit of BMG Residency. He reiterated ICC’s commitment to fostering dialogue and actionable results, building on the series’ previous success with IAS officer Ravi Kota.

The ‘ICC Guest of the Month’ initiative exemplifies ICC’s mission to drive reforms in Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and sustainable tourism. The recommendations from this session mark a significant step toward establishing Assam as a premier global tourism destination while ensuring inclusive development for local communities.