GUWAHATI: The Assam Government has earmarked Rs 50 crore for the financial year 2022-23 to promote tea tourism. State Finance Minister Ajanta Neog in her Budget Speech on March 16, said that 50 selected tea gardens will be given up to Rs 2 crore each.
Neog said that some tea gardens of Assam are located in picturesque surroundings with the potential to become great tourist destinations. However, accessibility and lack of lodging facilities around the tea gardens come in the way and normal tourists are not able to enjoy the bounty of the nature surrounding these tea gardens.
The amount will be provided as capital infrastructure support for building guest houses and tourist facilities inside the tea gardens.
The tea gardens will also be permitted to undertake non-tea cultivation activities such as agroforestry, solar power projects, etc, which will also add to their income.
Additionally, a river tourism circuit will be developed along the Brahmaputra, covering the Manas and the Kaziranga National Parks. River cruises including the luxury ones will be plying on this route.
