Kohima | September 26 : Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has been observing World Tourism Day on September 27 and likewise Nagaland State joins the world in observing the occasion under the theme “Tourism-Linking Cultures”, in Tuensang on Tuesday.
“Tourism is the only industry we see in the state, and to promote tourism in the state, people need to know what Tourism is all about, and the activities surrounding tourism, unless the people know and have knowledge tourism and its activities, it is difficult to really come up in a big way”, said Parliamentary secretary Tourism Law & Justice Yitachu as he prepares to leave for the big day.
State readies for World Tourism Day in Tuensang
In an exclusively interview with The Morung Express at his official residence on Sunday, Yitachu said tourism activities has to be ‘picked’ to some extent and yet many people don’t know how to make a living out of tourism activities. ‘It’s a distant dream for them”, said Yitachu when queried over the selection of district for the event. . The Tourism department is roping in Nagaland Tourism Association which will also involve hotels.
To facilitate development, Yitachu said, the landowners need to “relax their ownership,” instead of ‘preserving their ownership’ so people can make a living out of the sector.
Trying to reach out to the needy in the state and across the boundaries those in dire need of education and sustenance, Yiachu said cultural tourism is ‘readymade’ and ‘readily available in the state.’ Besides, there are many eco-tourism activities that can take place, even ‘healing tourism.’
“Tourism is not confined to one agenda, it involves everything, and the problem is that people do not understand the value of accommodation, which is needed to be located in the centrally populated places where all kinds of activities are surrounded with interesting things.” Tourism activities have to be within the vicinity of ‘human habitation,’ he added.
He expressed hope that the occasion would give an opportunity to tourist guides and tour operators to project Tuensang as an attractive destination within the state or highlight the real life of Nagas, their living conditions and what kind of transformation has taken place over the years and so on.
