Nagaland seeks slice of global tourism pie

KOHIMA: Nagaland is looking for ways to develop places of historical and religious importance in the state with a view to promote tourism. For a start, the government is planning to promote Chesezu in Phek district - where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose set up his last forward camp during World War II - as a destination for tourists. It said Bose chose this village because it was a vantage point overlooking all neighbouring villages and surrounding areas due to its high altitude.
The state is also looking to bring in religious pilgrims to the 135-year-old Molungyimsen village in Mokokchung district - known as the birthplace of Christianity in the state. This is the village where in December, 1872, American missionary Dr Edward Winter Clark established the first church of Nagaland and baptised 15 young Naga men of this village.
Speaking at the 14th cultural festival of Phusachodumi Youth Society in Phek district, parliamentary secretary of tourism Yitachu said that promoting pilgrimage and historical tourism in Nagaland would bring in numerous tourists round the year and generate a significant amount of revenue for the people of the state.
Citing a recent survey, which said that the number of tourists around the globe is about to cross 1 billion, Yiyachu said immense opportunities and revenue can be generated if Nagaland can pull in only just 0.1 % of these tourists. He said that most advanced countries depend on funds generated by the tourism industry, but Nagaland had failed to take make the fullest use of tourism activities and promote this industry.
Asserting that culture is the first learning process of human life, Yitachu He also stressed on importance of preserving the state's heritage and culture. "Our forefathers performed various rituals and festivals in the past, but we have come a long way since then. If we look at ourselves today, we will realize that how much social, cultural and religious transformation we have undergone over the years."
On declaration of 2012-13 as the year of Youth-cum-Tribal Festivals, Yitachu said youth festivals and road shows will continue round the year. He urged the tribal Hohos to take advantage of the platform that festival will provide and plan ahead of time to generate publicity and attract tourists.
Yitachu also emphasised on the importance of peace in tourism industry. "The environment in the state has to be peaceful; to attract tourists. And peace has to begin from within the family and people as a whole, and all these activities will be possible only through peace" he added.