The European Union has withdrawn its negative travel advisory for Assam, effective immediately, allowing citizens from all 27 member states to visit the state without restrictions, except for three districts under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the development during a Facebook Live session, calling it a significant boost for Assam's international tourism prospects.
Details of the Advisory Change
According to Sarma, EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin informed Assam's chief secretary that the restriction was lifted from Friday. The advisory now only excludes the districts of Charaideo, Tinsukia, and Sivasagar, which remain under AFSPA. This move follows similar actions by Australia and Japan, which had earlier withdrawn their travel advisories for Assam.
"After reviewing the situation in Assam, the EU has withdrawn the negative travel advisory from yesterday. Effectively, it means that the 27 member-states of the EU have lifted the restrictions for its citizens travelling to our state, barring the three districts of Charaideo, Tinsukia and Sivasagar which are under AFSPA," Sarma said.
Impact on Tourism and Business
The chief minister described the development as "a broader shift in international perception of Assam’s stability and tourism potential." He emphasized that it would strengthen engagement between Assam and EU countries, boosting tourism, business, and people-to-people ties. In a post on X, Sarma expressed gratitude to Delphin for his support, stating, "This development, following the recent visit of EU diplomats, is a strong vote of confidence in Assam and bodes well for deeper EU Assam engagement."
Sarma noted that while the United States and Canada still maintain travel restrictions, the state government is continuing diplomatic efforts to persuade them. "We were contacting the embassies to persuade them that Assam is peaceful now, and their citizens should not face restrictions in coming here. After pursuing for a long time, we have been successful in getting the advisory lifted by the EU now," he said.
Infrastructure and Promotion Plans
With the expected increase in tourist inflow from EU countries, Sarma stressed the need to upgrade infrastructure. "We have to plan for homestays, nature-themed camps, huts, etc in such a way. We have to showcase our ethnic food to the tourists," he said. The government also plans to promote Assam's tourism potential through digital platforms, including a dedicated tourism website with a single-window booking system for homestays.
"We have to publicise the USP of the state through social media, especially in English, to ensure maximum outreach," Sarma added, highlighting that tourism provides maximum employment and is a step towards an 'atmanirbhar Assam'. He urged keeping tourism spots clean and improving homestays to attract visitors.
Historical Context and Future Outlook
Sarma remarked that earlier restrictions had affected Assam's tourism prospects for decades, but expressed confidence that continued outreach would place the state more prominently on the global tourism map. On the possibility of high-level foreign visits, he said Assam is preparing to host dignitaries between July 1 and 3, without naming specific leaders.
