In Brief:
- Chief Minister Sarma highlighted Dima Hasao's Umrangso and Haflong, alongside Karbi Anglong's Diphu, as scenic, tranquil hill retreats.
- Encouraging state travelers to holiday within Assam is intended to retain tourism revenue locally while boosting regional infrastructure development.
- The pitch follows recurring advisories and law-and-order friction along the Assam-Meghalaya border that have disrupted tourist movement into Shillong.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged travelers from Assam to discover the state's picturesque hill districts rather than flocking to traditional destinations across the border. Highlighting locations like Umrangso, Haflong, and Diphu, Sarma emphasized that Assam’s hill stations possess immense scenic potential, rich cultural heritage, and untapped tourism appeal equal to that of Shillong. The statement comes against the backdrop of persistent inter-state border tensions and occasional travel disruptions in Meghalaya, with the government seeking to fortify Assam's local economy by positioning its internal destinations as safer, high-quality alternatives for domestic vacationers.
