The Need for Fundamental Reforms in Government Initiatives to Create a Tourism-Friendly Environment in Tripura
Jayanta Debnath
April 27, 2025
I recently had the opportunity to travel with my wife to Thailand and Malaysia. Having visited so many places and seen so many things, I am struggling to decide what to write about. However, one thing that repeatedly crossed my mind during this trip is that, except for the sea, both Thailand and Malaysia have everything that we have in Tripura. But the one thing missing here is 'sincere intent' for tourism development. If only the political leaders, ministers, and tourism officials of our state had this sincere intent from the very beginning, Tripura could have become one of the leading tourist hubs in Southeast Asia by now. Despite 20-25 years of Left Front rule, I did not see any significant development in tourism, and the same is true for the BJP's seven years of governance. Tripura's tourism development is still limited to speeches and promises.
I believe that all of Tripura's ministers, MLAs, selected tour operators, drivers, hotel staff, and especially tourism corporation officers should be taken on a tour of nearby tourism-friendly states and countries, at government expense. This will give them a firsthand experience of how tourism can resolve unemployment problems. Many tourists, both foreign and local, face severe mistreatment by drivers and service providers in hotels and other tourism establishments. This can easily be observed at MBB Airport or by speaking to visitors in popular spots like Jampui Hill to Tepania like tourist destinations in Tripura.
These are my personal thoughts, but I sincerely wish for the swift development of tourism in Tripura. Despite the criticism, many people have raised similar concerns, and I too feel the need to speak up. Thailand and Malaysia have reached the pinnacle of success in tourism due to their modern infrastructure, professional attitude, and a 'tourist first' policy. Tripura, with its rich natural beauty, historical monuments, and cultural diversity, lags behind in the race to develop tourism.
Actually, except for the sea beaches, Tripura has all the elements for modern tourism: good food to waterfalls, mountains, lakes, ethnic diversity, royal palaces, religious sites, folk culture, handicrafts, wildlife, rural life, and eco-friendly natural environments. What Tripura lacks is a professional approach to tourism development.
The tourism department, whether government or private, is still largely limited to speeches. Most of the time, tour operators prioritize their convenience over the needs of the tourists. During my trip to Thailand and Malaysia, I saw that the tourism and hotel staff there follow the 'tourist first' approach. When will we have the same attitude here?
Tourism in Tripura is rich with historical sites like Ujjayanta Palace, Neermahal, natural spots like Jampui Hill, and the tribal culture of the state. But these have not been marketed or presented properly, both during the Left Front rule and now. Even after the BJP came to power in 2018, the progress is mostly on paper. There's a lack of proper implementation, transparency, and planning for the sector. Many of the initiatives like eco-tourism, heritage trails, or homestay systems have not been fully embraced yet. The government’s tourism website lists homestays, but many of them have either been shut down or are not functional.
While states like Arunachal, Sikkim, and Meghalaya constantly market themselves digitally through websites, YouTube, and social media, Tripura’s tourism development is still slow due to the unprofessional attitude of the tourism officers.
Despite having so many resources, Tripura has failed to make an impact on national or international tourism branding. Former cricketer Sourav Ganguly was appointed as the ambassador for Tripura’s tourism development for several crores, but his contribution remains unclear. Tourists are increasingly traveling abroad or to other states because of poor services in Tripura.
In conclusion, Tripura has all the ingredients for tourism development but lacks the right professional leadership. With the proper mindset and training, Tripura can create a tourism infrastructure like that of Thailand or Malaysia. Only then will Tripura change and become a key player in the tourism industry, with the right government leadership recognizing tourism as an important industry for the state’s future. ( Writer is a senior journalist and Editor Tripurainfo dot com)
(Tripurainfo)
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