Chizokho Vero
Pfutsero | October 17
Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Law & Justice Yitachu today asserted that the Protected Area Permits (PAP) which was partially relaxed earlier by the central government has helped increase the inflow of both domestic and international tourists to Nagaland.
Mentionably, the central government has partially relaxed the PAP regime with a view to give a boost to tourism industry. The state of Nagaland has allowed all foreign tourists except those nations from China, Pakistan and Bangladesh to enter the state freely during 2011-12. This arrangement is likely to be continued in 20012- 2013 as well.
Terming the partial relaxation of PAP by central government as a good development, Yitachu also stated that the department was also kept in touch with the administration and police not to be over restriction on ILP to those tourists visiting state for the purpose of Hornbill Festival.
Inaugurating a Tourist Complex here this morning, Yitachu expressed concern over infrastructural deficiencies, especially accommodation of tourists visiting Nagaland. He stated that the present available capacity can hardly accommodate 30% of tourists visiting the state. In this, he stressed on the need to expand accommodation facility in the state. Encouraging the concerned individual to take up paying guests, he also encouraged the young entrepreneurs to take up hotel industry. He declared that if the people are willing to donate land, the department is willing to take up tourism infrastructure in their areas. Asserting that the government has been making all possible efforts to promote tourism industry in Nagaland, he however regretted that land-ownership problem play as one hindrance to infrastructure development. In this, he called upon the people to realize the real picture of tourism and donate land for promotion of tourism related activities in the state. Stating that tourism is an industry, he said, Nagaland has lots of potential in tourism for which the state government was initiating many activities. He said Nagaland has lots of potentials in developing tourism activities, like cultural tourism, eco-tourism, religious pilgrimage tourism, social and political pilgrimage tourism, he said adding that the government has been pursuing in that direction.
Also speaking on the occasion, State Planning Board (SPB) deputy chairman Neiba Kronu asserted that there cannot be tourism without accommodation, adding that accommodation is the most important for all of us. He was appreciative of Yitachu for giving special attention to Pfutsero in owning Tourist Complex. Through his support, he said, the NEC has also sanctioned a project for development of Pfutsero Lake.
P. Angami, additional director tourism department said that tourism is the major driver for economic development and employment generation. The state has enormous potential in tourism for which the department has been promoting rural tourism, cultural tourism and eco- tourism in a big way, he said. He stated that the inflow of both domestic and foreign tourist has been increasing year by year. The foreign tourists visiting the state recorded at 1132 in 2000 has gone to 2000 in 2011, he said,
Pfutsero ADC Robert Longchari said Pfutsreo is not only the vegetable bowl of Nagaland but it has lots of tourism potential. He called upon the public to extend their cooperation to the department so as to get more development. Meyielo Kapfo said with the advent of science and technology we are living in the global village but unless there is infrastructure we cannot interact with other physically and welcomed the setting of up the tourist complex in Pfutsero.
Situated at an altitude of above 2,600 Mts above sea level, Pfutsero under Phek district is the coldest place in Nagaland. It lies 70 km far from state capital, Kohima. From Glory Peak one can clearly view the highest mountain in the World - Mt. Everest in the West and the highest mountain in Nagaland – Mt. Saramati in the East.
