The Centre may consider the plea of Arunachal Pradesh for relaxation of Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and Protected Area Permit(PAP) in the state and to extend the validity of such permits from ten to 45 days.Union tourism secretary Uma Pillai assured to take up the matter with union home affairs and defence ministries on priority basis.The secretary's response came at the North Eastern tourism directors, secretaries and commissioners' conference held at Kaziranga Tourist Complex in Assam recently.

Mr Pertin, while drawing the secretary's attention on the dire need for a change in the mindset of the Centre, requested her to relax the RAP and PAP regime to give the much-desired push to the high potential tourism sector of the State.''The validity of RAP and PAP if extended from 10 to 45 days, would enable the foreign tourists to cover the vast hilly state spread over 16 districts,'' Mr Pertin pointed out.Despite hindrance by such permits, the state has been witnessing substantial increase in tourist flow, but it was below the desired level, he said adding liberalisation would pep up the tourist flow.

  Mr Pertin also demanded adequate central fund on priority basis for developing trained manpower through tourism management institutes for their participation in governmment-private joint projects. Such manpower would boost the support needed by the tourism industry in the state, he said.

The conference, attended by members of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), major stake holders like hoteliers, restaurant holders and tour operators, had a brainstorming session on all aspects of tourism industry of the region, sources added.

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