Tourism, Growth and Employment Generation: A Comparison of Guizhou and Assam Dr. Sriparna Pathak Raimedhi Associate Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Introduction Migration, Northeast India, Southwest China Importance of the two regions- BCIM and BIMSTEC Tourism as a tool for revenue generation Fastest growing segment of the traditional services sector Field trip to Guizhou

Similarities Yan-Gui: frontier zone Full integration in the Chinese empire predated 18th century and marketing system-imperfect up to 20th century Form of agriculture practised: slash and burn; fertiliser- ashes; ignorance regarding manure, soil depletion Assam: Ahom rule replaced in 1819 by the Burmese, later replaced by British rule in 1826 Late integration into the system\Economy: agrarian. Jhum cultivation

Guizhou’s experience with Poverty Reduction and Tourism Mountainous province; capital- Guiyang

Graph 1: Guizhou’s Gross Regional Product, 2004-2013 Unit: 100 million Yuan

Graph 2: Guizhou’s Gross Regional Product as Compared to Other Provinces in 2013 Unit: 100 million Yuan

Reliance on agriculture and tourism to prop the economy Poor infrastructure- hindrance to the development of the manufacturing industry Projects in pipeline Top companies in the region and why they are worthy of mention Kewichow Moutai: from over 20 billion Yuan, the industry contributes to GDP, base liquor accounts fro more than 90 per cent of the local financial income- bolstered packaging and logistics industries Maotai- employment in 1951 versus now Tourism in 2014: 44.7 million Yuan Challenges

Tourism promotion plans in Guizhou 2006, Guizhou Tourism Administration’s Guzhou Rural Tourism Development Plan Strategic guidance for development of tourism Identification of forms of tourism Bank finance Increasing transport facilities Tourism promotion through the interwebs Tourism reception facilities Challenges

Assam’s experience with Poverty Reduction and Tourism Reliance of Assam on agriculture and oil

Graph 3: Assam’s Gross State Domestic Product, 2004-05 – 2014-15 Unit: Rupees (in lakhs)

Graph 4: Assam’s Gross State Domestic Product as Compared to other Northeastern States in 2013-14 Unit: Rupees Lakhs

Tourism Plans in Assam Tourism in Assam: essentially nature based Directorate of Tourism, Assam: tourist attracting components have been categorised Identification of tourist circuits and linking plans Infrastructure development Incentives for private investment in tourism Sustainable development of tourism

What has been achieved so far? Similarity with Guizhou in execution of plans Case of Majuli Islands Targets unmet 2009-10, out of six projects of the Assam State Tourism Development Corporation, only three were completed; 2010-11 none were completed

Conclusion Poverty reduction much more rapid in Guizhou Recognition of the potency of tourism in both the places at the same time Differences in what the plans in the two places have achieved so far Guizhou: better employment generated/ infrastructure created Assam: sustainable development of tourism/ more foreign revenues as number of foreign tourists higher

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