Arunachal Pradesh to simplify Inner Line Permit procedure to raise tourist inflow

GUWAHATI: With a view to raise tourist inflow and make the state more visitor-friendly, the Arunachal Pradesh government is working to simplify the procedure for application and issuance of the Inner Line Permit.

"The ILP has so far not been relaxed. However, the effort of the government of Arunachal is that it is going to simplify the procedure and lot of Information Technology (IT) intervention is taking place," Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Secretary Sonam Chombay told reporters here today.

He added, "Within a very short time online ILP facility would be in place. That will solve a lot of problems of the domestic tourists."

The ILP is an official travel document issued to Indian citizens who want to visit "protected/restricted areas or states" like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram. It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside those States to obtain permit for entering into the protected State.

Asked if the Arunachal government is contemplating to issue ILP-on-arrival as in the case of Mizoram, Chombay said, "We can think about it."

He also said that in case of international visitors also efforts are on to simply procedures.

"As far as the foreign tourists are concerned, the state has the Protected Area Permit (PAP) and as a department we have simplified the procedure. Now even two foreign tourists can apply for the PAP and I being the issuing authority made it sure that it is issued on the same day and no inconvenience is caused to the visitors," Chombay said.