Today Nagaland along with the rest of the country will join the international community in commemorating World Tourism Day. What needs to be highlighted though is that September 27 is not just about tourist administrators, tour operators, hotels, tourism schools and the media having a field day. In more ways then one World Tourism Day was conceptualized with the aim of fostering awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.
The very idea of establishing such a day with its annual theme should be seen as the tourist industry taking upon itself the role of a messenger carrying its message on outstanding issues facing mankind. Past themes— Tourism: a toll for peace and dialogue among civilizations; Ecotourism, the key to sustainable development; tourism: a driving force for poverty alleviation, job creation and social harmony—are issues common to people whether in Asia, Africa, Canada or Europe. Tourism touches the lives of everybody in some way or the other down to the local communities. It would be an opportune time to address some issues in the context of Nagaland.
Quite appropriately, the theme for this year is “Travel and Transport” for transport has always been the lifeline of the travel industry. In Nagaland, the non-availability of basic infrastructure is a serious constraint in the development of tourism in the State. It is pertinent to mention that the Project of the Government of India for Nagaland (2004) undertaken by the UNDP in partnership with WTO has pointed out the necessity for the State government to identify the road segments connecting major tourist destinations and to formulate strategy for the improvement of these roads within a time frame of three years, if not earlier. The report also calls for immediate action on effective coordination among the departments involved with infrastructure development and ensuring priority in developing infrastructure in the areas identified for tourism development. It also calls for improving availability of water, electricity and sewerage facilities in tourist centres and giving recognition to tourism as an infrastructure industry and confering all special incentives to the activity. The 5 As identified for this purpose include access, accommodation, attraction, amenities and awareness.
The government would have to play an active role and devise suitable strategy to promote all the 5 A’s. Overall, the tourism development strategy for Nagaland has to be community based and consistent with the principles of sustainability. Only then will we benefit from the growing socioeconomic potential that tourism has to offer.
