Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Reopens for 2026-27 Tourism Season
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Welcomes Visitors
Assam Forest Minister during a jeep safari after re-opening of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary on Tuesday (Photo: Meta)
Guwahati, Oct 13: The wildlife tourism season for 2026-27 in Assam kicked off on Tuesday with the reopening of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, following the earlier openings of Manas and Kaziranga national parks.
Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah officially reopened the sanctuary located in Morigaon district, where he also inaugurated a souvenir shop, enjoyed a jeep safari, and toured the Interpretation Centre.
During the event, he spoke to a crowd that included local residents, officials from the Forest Department, and other stakeholders.
Baruah expressed his excitement about welcoming nature enthusiasts back to the sanctuary, highlighting its rich biodiversity in a social media update. He mentioned the inauguration of the souvenir shop and his experiences during the safari.
The event was graced by newly elected Nagaon Lok Sabha MP Devasish Sharma, Tiwa Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Jibon Chandra Konwar, and other dignitaries.
Sharma noted that local residents had requested the sanctuary's reopening before the Durga Puja festival to support local livelihoods, a request that the Forest Minister honored.
Last season, Pobitora attracted 35,371 visitors, marking a nearly 3% increase from the previous year, with over 500 being international tourists, according to Sharma.
He emphasized the importance of enhancing tourism infrastructure to create a better environment for stakeholders, which would help boost visitor numbers.
"Enhancing hotels, accommodations, and other facilities is crucial," he stated, advocating for the promotion of homestays involving local youth and residents.
The reopening aligns with the Assam government's initiative to foster community-based tourism and improve lodging options.
In June, the state Cabinet approved the Assam Tourism Accommodation (Development and Registration) Rules, 2026, which established a streamlined registration process for homestays and other tourist accommodations, featuring automatic renewals every three years.
The 2026-27 Budget also introduced a comprehensive homestay policy, offering a 30% capital subsidy and a 2% interest subvention for eligible registered homestays.
These initiatives aim to promote local involvement and ensure that tourism growth generates job opportunities for communities.
Pobitora's reopening follows the staggered commencement of Assam's wildlife tourism season, which began with Manas National Park reopening on October 2 and Kaziranga National Park on October 3.