Power, Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath today informed that the present state government has undertaken several programs to establish Tripura as a center of excellence for tourism in the entire country.

The Minister said this in the presence of Sushanta Choudhury, Tourism Minister, and Santana Chakma, Industry & Commerce Minister, while inaugurating the 4th Event of Unity Promo Fest 2025 at Vanghmun Playground, Jampui Hills, today.

The Minister also inaugurated the beautifully renovated Eden Tourist Lodge at Vanghmun, Jampui Hills, today. He said that to highlight Tripura’s tourism industry before the world, the first Promo Fest was held in the state in 2024.

“Like last year, this year too, ‘Unity Promo Fest 2025’ has been organized. It has started on a larger scale with six tourist centers, including Narikerkunja, Belonia, Udaipur, Jampui Hill, and Neermahal tourist centers. After that, it will conclude with a grand cultural program at the Swami Vivekananda Stadium in Agartala. Renowned music artists of the country were and will be present at these events,” said the Minister.

The Minister informed that Promofest is a tourism initiative aimed at developing tourism.

“Nowadays, tourism is no longer just a means of entertainment; it is now considered an important factor across the world. Not only that, tourism plays a special role in the economic progress of the country and in creating employment opportunities directly and indirectly. The main objective of Promofest is to showcase the state's progressing tourism to tourists from home and abroad, to strengthen the bond of harmony between nations and people, to make people self-reliant and economically strong through homestay registration, and to enrich the economic base and cultural consciousness. Promofest is a way to promote Tripura's tourism,” he said.

The Minister further informed that as a result of the positive approach of the Tourism Department, the arrival of domestic and foreign tourists is increasing, along with revenue collection and employment generation.

He said that in 2016–2017, 3,80,578 domestic tourists and 39,229 foreign tourists visited the state, totaling 4,19,807. In 2024–2025, 6,27,705 domestic tourists and 79,468 foreign tourists visited, totaling 7,07,173.

“Initiatives have been taken to revamp important tourist centers of the state. Work has been completed to beautify one of the fifty-one pithas, the Tripureshwari Temple, as well as Neermahal, Dambur, Chobimura, etc.,” he said.

The Minister informed that the total number of families under the Jampui Hill R.D. Block is 3,892. Among them, 2,151 beneficiaries have been covered under PMAY-G and PM-JANMAN from 2018 till date. A total of 2,161 functional household tap connections have been provided under the Jampui Hill R.D. Block, and free rice has been provided to 1,386 PHH families.

During the event, MLA Philip Kumar Reang, Sabhadhipati Aparna Nath, Tourism Secretary U.K. Chakma, and others were present.