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Assam Tourism Development Corporation

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Assam Tourism Development Corporation
অসম পৰ্যটন উন্নয়ন নিগম
Company typeGovernment of Assam undertaking
IndustryTourism, ecotourism, hotel management
Founded9 June 1988
Headquarters
Paryatan Bhawan, Paltan Bazaar, Guwahati
,
India
Area served
Assam, India
ServicesTourism sector
WebsiteAssam Tourism Development Corporation
The headquarters of ATDC Ltd.

Assam Tourism Development Corporation or ATDC (Assamese: অসম পৰ্যটন উন্নয়ন নিগম) is a state owned corporation of Assam, India. It deals with tourism services and development as a part of the Assam Tourism Department along with the Directorate of Tourism. The State Govt. of Assam set up the corporation on 9 June 1988.[1][2] The ATDC is headquartered at Guwahati (26°10′41″N 91°44′58″E / 26.1780427°N 91.7495255°E / 26.1780427; 91.7495255) and has district offices across Assam. Its official slogan is "Awesome Assam."[3]

List of ATDC Chairpersons

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List of Chairpersons of Assam Tourism Development Corporation
Name Portrait Chief Minister Appointment date Retirement date
Shri Bhrigu Kr. Phukan Prafulla Kumar Mahanta 24 December 1988 27 January 1990
Shri Girindra Kr. Baruah Prafulla Kumar Mahanta 27 January 1990 27 November 1990
Shri L.P. Gupta, IAS Hiteswar Saikia 3 April 1991 6 September 1991
Mrs. Syeda Anwara Taimur Hiteswar Saikia 6 September 1991 4 June 1993
Shri Prafulla Kr. Mahanta
Prafulla Kumar Mahanta
 Prafulla Kumar Mahanta 28 March 1996 19 December 1998
Shri Jagadish Ch. Bhuyan
Prafulla Kumar Mahanta 19 December 1998 20 April 2001
Dr. Surajit Mitra, IAS Tarun Gogoi 20 April 2001 24 April 2002
Smti Emily Choudhury, IAS Tarun Gogoi 24 April 2002 12 August 2002
Smti Ajanta Neog
Ajanta Neog
 Tarun Gogoi 12 August 2002 30 September 2003
Shri Ajit Singh Tarun Gogoi 30 September 2003 10 March 2006
Dr. (Mrs.) Hemo Prabha Saikia Tarun Gogoi 10 March 2006 3 August 2016
Shri V.S.Bhaskar, IAS Sarbananda Sonowal 3 August 2016 14 May 2017
Shri Jayanta Malla Baruah
Jayanta Malla Baruah
 Sarbananda Sonowal 14 May 2017 8 March 2021
Shri Rituparna Baruah
Rituparna Baruah
 Himanta Biswa Sarma 8 November 2021 Incumbent

History of tourism in Assam

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Once, this northeastern state of India was known as Pragjyotishpura, then Kamrupa. During Ahom rule the land was called Axom, which foreigners pronounced "Assam". Assam was ruled by many kingdoms from ancient times. In 1826, British took over Assam and made it a separate state. From ancient times, tourists have come to this land. The Chinese traveler Xuanzang visited Kamrupa during Bhaskarvarman in the 7th century.

In 1958, the Department of Tourism was established. In 1962, an information office opened in Kaziranga, and in 1965, an information office opened in Sivasagar.[4]

In 1987 (during the seventh Five Year Plan), the first ever tourism policy of Assam was notified and subsequently ATDC was formed with a paid up capital of 24 lakh. In the same year the state government declared tourism as an industry.[4]

In the mid-70s, Assam tourism started properties near Kaziranga and other places such as Aranya, Banani, Banashree, MV and Jolporee. After the creation of ATDC, some of them were handed over to ATDC to operate. From the beginning, ATDC created many tourist lodges, yatriniwas, parks, and wayside amenities with the brand name of "Prashaanti". In 2009, a "tourist arrival cum reception center" was opened in Guwahati, which is presently known as "Asom Paryatan Bhawan". In 2012, ATDC started a luxury cruise, MV Mahabaahu, in a joint venture.[5]

In 1995 the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) from Assam was withdrawn which had been imposed in 1962 after Chinese attack.[4]

Properties

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Assam tourism has more than 50 properties including lodges, wayside amenities, restaurants, parks, rope ways, amusement parks, and cruises in locations across Assam. Out of these, the Directorate of Tourism runs eight lodges. ATDC operates directly seven lodges, and other properties are on lease to private parties.[6]

Ropeway at Samaguri Lake, Nagaon, Assam, India

Properties near Kaziranga National Park of Golaghat and Nagaon districts include:

  • Aranya Tourist Lodge
  • Kaziranga Tourist Lodge (Banani, Bonoshree, Kunjabon under DOT)
  • Jupurighar camping site
  • Jonaki Kareng (reception center)
  • Prashaanti Cottage
  • Rhinorica (wayside amenity)
  • GL Resort, Jakhalabanda (wayside amenity)
  • Triptir Ehaj, Amoni (wayside amenity)
  • Tanz Water Sports (Kaliabhumora Recreational Park)
  • Down Town Resort
  • Samaguri Lake Tourism Project

Prashaanti Lodges and tourist complexes of other places include:

More than 15 parks and restaurants across Assam run under ATDC on lease.

Red River Tours & Travels is its travel wing, which operates customized and conducted tours, such as Kaziranga tours, city tours, and pilgrimage tours.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About ATDC". Assam Tourism. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  2. ^ As per notified in Tourism Policy 1987
  3. ^ "Assam to aggressively promote brand entity "Awesome Assam"". The Economic Times.
  4. ^ a b c Kangki Megu (2007). Development Issues in North-East Region. Mittal Publications. pp. (23) 235. ISBN 81-8324-198-0.
  5. ^ "MV MAHABAAHU". Reader Offers Ltd.
  6. ^ "ATDC Property". ATDC.
  7. ^ "Red River – A unit of Assam Tourism Development Corporation". ATDC.
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