Mallaya for investment in Northeast tourism

Although the region is unique, tourism in the Northeast is not vigorously promoted, Vijay Mallaya said in Kohima on Sunday.

The government and the private sector must come forward to make investments in the north-eastern region, particularly in the tourism sector, Vijay Mallaya, the liquor industry baron and Rajya Sabha member, said.

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Although the region is unique, tourism in the Northeast is not vigorously promoted, Mallaya said in Kohima on Sunday.

"I am overwhelmed by the beauty, culture, diversity and warm hospitality of the Nagas and I will certainly tell the Union Tourism Minister Renuka Choudhury about the potential in Nagaland and (the need to) invest here," he said.

"As a member of Parliament, I will fight for the promotion of tourism in Nagaland and I hope the Hornbill Festival will get lot more support from the Centre next year onwards," Mallaya, who is visiting Kohima to see the five-day festival, told reporters.

He said that many took industry to mean only heavy industries, but the Northeast's advantages in areas like horticulture, herbal medicine, organic food should be extensively tapped.

He said he would see as to how those advantages could be exploited and whether a brewery for manufacturing beer in Nagaland was viable or not.