Tourism Road Show & Colours of North East
To create awareness about India’s North East and to attractand topromote tourism and filmmaking in the North East. A unique initiative Colours of North East was organised on1stAugust,2015 evening at the crystal hall and ballroomof Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. The programme comprises a Tourism Road show wherein presentations were made on potential for tourism in Assam and North East. It was followed by Cultural Programme “Colours of North East” showcasing unique colourful culture of Assam and North East.
The programme was attended by top industrialists of Mumbai including Mr. Godrej, top management of Tata group, prominent journalists Mr. Sekhar Gupta, writer SobhaDe, filmmaker Kiran Rao, Anurag Basu, Ronnie Lahiri, Mehul,Shyam Singhania and many others. Around 30 top tour operators of Mumbai, top Doctors like Ramakant Panda, media, exporthouses, top Bankers of IDBI, Exim Bank, LIC etc. It’s an initiatives of North East Festival and is organised by reputed Socio Cultural Trust of Assam Trend MMS in association with Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.
The programme started with a tribute to late APJ Abdul Kalam. It was followed by a lucid presentation on Arunachal as tourism and film making destination by Dr. Joram Beda, IAS, Secertary(Tourism), Govt of Arunachal Pradesh. Dr. Beda spoke about exotic locations of Arunacha Pradesh and invited the tourists and tour operators to visit the State. Dr. Beda also invited the prominent filmmakers of Mumbai to do film shootings in Mumbai and highlighted the various incentive structure proposed by Arunachal for film tourism in the State. He highlighted the various tourism circuits including wildlife circuits, cultural tourism, river tourism destinations etc. Top tour operators of Mumbai attended the evening Dr. Beda also interacted with the tour operators and encouraged them to send tourists to Arunachal Pradesh in the coming season.
Mr. Manik Sharma, Managing Director, Assam Tourism Development Corporation presented Assam as tourism destination and highlighted the various tourism circuits including wildlife circuits, cultural tourism destinations etc. An audio visual show on Assam tourism highlighted the amazing destinations of Assam. Mr. Sharma also interacted with the tour operators of Mumbai.
The evening cultural program showcased Grammy award nominee monks of Bomdilla, Moa & Abiogenesis, violinist Sunita Khound with special appearance of Bollywood singer from Assam Angarag Papon Mahanta and Bodo singer in Mumba Anaya Brahma, Naga folkdance etc. Ace Mumbai designer Ms.Vaishali, Assamese designer Kankana Konwar, famous Meghalaya Designer Daniel showcased topfabric of the region with top models of the region and outside. Super Model Dipanita Sharma was the showstoppers.
Eminent Journalists Sekhar Gupta spoke about North East as destination which is pure and ready for tourism activities. Hehighlighted his longe xperience on the North East and spoke about the various facets of the region.
Mr.Adi Godrej, owner of Godrej group spoke about Godrej’s presence in North East and spoke about the good experience in investing invarious North Eastern States. Writer Sobha De spoke about the need for the rest of India to understand North East India which is such a beautiful parts of the country. Mr.R K Krishna Kumar, former Chairman of Tata Tea spoke about Tata group’s involvement in the North East. Film maker Ronnie Lahiri and Kiran Rao spoke about North Eastasfilmmaking destination and showed willingness to xplore the region. Mr Ajay Kanoujia, Director (North East)in Home Ministry invited the film makers present to explore North Eastas film making destinations.
Mr. hyamkanu Mahanta, the Chief Organiser informed that India’s North East, with improved security scenario and huge focus from Government is ready for tourism and filmmaking.The region with unmatched beauty and natural beauty have the potential become the most attractive tourism and filmmaking destinations in the country. Mr.Mahanta informed that many prominent filmmakers have shown interest in film shootings in the region. Mr. Mahanta thanked Hotel Taj Mahal Palace for the support and informed that Taj have agreed to organise adedicated North Eastfood festival at Taj Mahal Palace to popularize various cuisines of North East.
Mr.Ranjit Barthakur, President of Organising Committee informed that programme would help increating awareness about North East Indiain Mumbai and would pave way for investments in the region.
Major outcomes of the show:
a) Mumbai’s top industrialists, Bankers, filmmakers, export houses, tour operators attended the programme.
b) Governments of North East interacted with top tour operators of Mumbai, industrialists and filmmakers.
c) Many tour operators have agreed to promote North East aggressively.
d) Many filmmakers have shown interest to do shootings in North East especially in Arunachal. Regular followup wouldbe made to convert the lead
e) Many industrialists shown interest to explore investment.
f) The designers of North East got exposure, few received large orders. g) Models of the region is getting offers in Mumbai.
h) A positive perception about the region is being formed.