Temjentula Aier
Dimapur | February 20
Nagaland is gradually emerging as a tourist destination because of its unique cultural heritage, traditions, arts, crafts, dance and music and the serene natural beauty and panoramic views of the rolling hills. But can it still reach greater heights in promoting tourism. The general viewpoint among a larger section of the masses is that Nagaland can properly develop the tourist industry by creating a more conducive environment while focusing on the availability of adequate infrastructure such as good hotel accommodation, good roads and easy access for overseas tourists.
In this context, The Morung Express spoke to Tourist Officer, Temjen Ao, Tourist Lodge, Dimapur who says the number of overseas tourists visiting Nagaland is steadily increasing of late. For instance, in recent months the largest number of overseas tourists recorded at the Dimapur Tourist Lodge was 87 in December 2005. This was evidently due to the Hornbill Festival in Kisama and the Christmas and New Year celebrations during this period. Even in the month of January this year, 30 overseas tourists arrived at the Dimapur Tourist Lodge. This optimistic number of overseas tourists exceeds that of those who visited the commercial hub in the corresponding period of 2005.
According to him, “The overseas tourists are fed up of their congested urban surroundings, so in order to get away they turn to faraway places like Nagaland where there is so much to see especially in the interior areas. If the Government relaxes the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for overseas tourists and if peaceful situation prevails the Tourism Industry in Nagaland will progress tremendously”.
On the other hand, Tsanchingla Imlong of Zingki Tours and Adventures, Mokokchung feels that the present situation does not affect tourism in anyway. “It’s only that there’s just too much media-hype on the prevailing situation in Nagaland.”
She further said that the RAP needs to be relaxed in order to provide easy access to overseas tourists but at the same time feels that mass tourism should be restricted lest it spoils the environment and the local ecological system. According to her, tourism is a field which can provide maximum employment opportunities, both for skilled and the unskilled workers; and if the required steps are taken by the Government, it will facilitate the growth of the tourism industry in Nagaland to a great extent.
Morung Express News
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