Dr Asangba Tzudir
The recent three-day North east India festival, which was held in the Thailand Capital Bangkok from July 29, and which was the second edition was held with the objective to take forward the ACT East Policy. It also marked the 75 years of India’s diplomatic relationship with Thailand which was aimed at promoting trade, tourism and cultural exchange and people to people meet between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also said that the focus is to promote “India’s Act East as a part of India’s Act East Policy and Thailand’s Act West Policy” which aims to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop a strategic relationship with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
As such, the recent second edition of North East Festival held at Bangkok holds significance as it involved discussions which took centrestage as top Thai tour operators interacted with tourism stakeholders from the northeastern region while at the same time paving the way for fostering Indo-Thai relationship, so also the historical connectedness.
While the festival is very much in tune with the larger vision and scope of the Act East, in context, the question being, how much can having such a festival promote tourism in Nagaland. No doubt it paves the way for exchange of cultural ideas and knowledge, and in consideration of the vast potential for tourism in Nagaland like ecotourism; rural and village tourism; community based tourism; Adventure based tourism; Pilgrimage tourism etc.
During festivals what is generally exhibited are things or aspects like cultural artifacts, folk songs and dances and cultural costumes which are important identity markers, however, the above mentioned aspects of tourism are areas that have a vast potential and in urgent need to developing and strengthening so that the very idea of ‘cultural exchange’ gets broadened to the other aspects of tourism.
Considering the natural tapestry and the terrain, adventure tourism is one important tourism sector which really needs to be developed in order to attract tourists at an international scale. Further, the urban lifestyle has led to a counter-urbanization syndrome. This has had an impact on income levels going down and lesser job opportunities. As such rural tourism activities can solve these problems by focusing on heritage and culture.
Naga value system is built around community values and this augurs well for community based tourism where communities come together with a global message on preserving wildlife, bio-diversity and natural resources management. This is one aspect of tourism in Nagaland that has also got global attention.
With all these potentials, it is time for Nagaland Tourism to think big and go beyond the traditional cultural markers and festivals. The various potentials are waiting to be developed, and which is integral to develop economy so also the growing issues of unemployment.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
