Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday opened the Kaziranga National Park for tourists for 2020-21.
The jeep safari started from Wednesday (today) in Kohora and Bagori ranges of the national park while other two ranges would be opened from November for the visitors where elephant safari will also be started.
Addressing the media persons on the occasion, chief minister Sonowal said, “From today onwards, the Kaziranga National Park has been opened for tourists, both domestic and foreign.”
Also read: Kaziranga set to open for tourists from October 21
Sonowal hoped Assam’s tourism sector would be revived after the COVID19-induced lockdown situation with the opening of the Kaziranga National Park.
He also expressed optimism that the unemployed youths in and around Kaziranga would find meaningful employment again through jeep safari and other tourism activities.
Referring to one-time financial assistance to people engaged in jeep safari to alleviate their economic stress due to COVID19, Sonowal said the state government would take more such initiatives in the future for providing succour to the people engaged in tourism sector of the state.
He also called on the people of the five districts covered by Kaziranga National Park and the local communities residing in the surrounding areas of the park to extend full hospitality to the visitors coming from outside so that the best picture of State can be presented to the outside world.
The chief minister also highlighted the achievement of the state government in stopping rhino poaching to a great extend in last four and half years and he thanked the people of the nearby areas for extending their full cooperation in eliminating poaching incidents.
He also called on the people to maintain all COVID19 protocols in visiting the Kaziranga National Park and other such places of tourists’ interest so that the spread of the pandemic can be contained.
Sonowal also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on Tuesday underlining the need to make conscious efforts by everyone to arrest the spread of COVID19 during the forthcoming festival period.
He urged everyone associated with tourism sector of the state to strictly follow COVID19 protocols issued by competent health authorities.
The CM took a jeep safari into the national park.
During his jeep safari, the CM was accompanied by local MLA of Bokakhat and agriculture minister Atul Bora, water resources minister Keshab Mahanta, industries and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, MLA Rituparna Baruah, PCCF (Wildlife) AM Singh among others.