Supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that special efforts would be made to promote tourism in northeast India, Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma Monday said promoting tourism will be an effective tool in containing extremism in the country.The minister said the northeast has great potential to be developed as an important tourist destination due to its varied flora and fauna."Tourism can make significant contribution to the economic development of the region," Sharma said.He said he will soon visit the northeast to discuss various tourism-related issues with the states.Modi, during Sunday's closing ceremony of the Sangai tourism festival in Imphal, said tourism should be promoted in the northeastern states.