Chizokho Vero
Aizuto | November 25
Parliamentary secretary for Tourism, Art & Culture Yitachu today stressed on the need to create a peaceful atmosphere for tourists and the tourism industry to flourish in the state. Inaugurating Aizuto tourist destination here, Yitachu said the government has created the infrastructure and it is up to the public to maintain it and create a congenial environment to attract tourists to the destination. Aizuto is 30 kilometers from Zunheboto and 150 kilometers away from Kohima. It takes around an hour’s drive from Mokokchung.
Saying viable communication facilities, availability of handloom and handicrafts, and dissemination of ‘correct information’ have now become important components in this newly-created tourist destination, he stressed on the need to train local youths in ‘songs and dances’ so they will be available whenever called for. Such programmes will be an added attraction for tourists, he said. Appreciating the people’s movement for conservation of bio-diversity within the area, the parliamentary secretary hoped that the initiative would help reduce the effect of global warming. Stating that he had a small vision of having ‘religious tourism’ in the state the day the tourism portfolio was assigned to him, Yitachu said religious tourism with eco-tourism, cultural tourism and adventure will be the answer to such a destination like Aizuto. He said such a move will add value to life and help eradicate social menaces in the society.
He also stressed on the need to incorporate faith-healing in the premises of Aizuto Mission Centre where the tourist destination is situated. At the same time, Yitachu felt that dramas and plays, with religious ‘connotation’, should be part of the curriculum in Anderson Theological College, which is also within the tourist destination. This, Yitachu said, will send a strong message to the people. Urging the people to extend their cooperation, he appealed to make full use of the opportunities created by the Government for promotion of tourism-related activities to earn optimum benefit out of it.
Commissioner and Secretary for Tourism and Art & Culture Khekiye K. Sema said tourist destinations here were granted not merely on the ground of building infrastructure but also given by the centre as a due emphasis on conservation of the rich bio-diversity of the area.
He maintained that the newly created tourist destination will ‘open the eyes of the visitors’ to feel the impact of the God-gifted natural wealth to Nagas. He was hopeful that the destinations will enable the people to interact with one other and help build better relationships and at the same time, bring ‘integration attitude’ among the populace.
Terming the setting up of the tourist destination here as a blessing, Parliamentary Secretary Y. Patton hoped that the community will be able to improve their living standards and economic conditions by trading agriculture produce and handicrafts to the tourists. Talking to this correspondent, Neisatuo Keditsu, president of Nagaland Tourism Association was all praise for the initiative, saying this area has the potential to promote eco-tourism in the state. Several dignitaries including MLA Shetoi also attended the function.
