The Dimapur-Zubza railway project is proof that New Delhi has been looking for ways to engage with the North-East region through various projects in recent years as a result of India’s “Act East Policy” and the region’s growing importance in Indian diplomacy. Inland waterways have been started through the ports of Sittwe in Myanmar, Chittagong in Bangladesh, and Kolkota-Haldia in India as more affordable and environmentally friendly alternatives have been explored. The implementation of such development initiatives will result in a boom in trade, commerce, and tourism for Nagaland and North-Eastern states.
Independent reports claim that in the most recent years, from 2018 to 2020, Nagaland employed over 8000 people and earned between 50 and 100 crore rupees in revenue from tourism. One of the State’s largest sources of revenue is the tourism industry; however, due to inadequate infrastructural development, it has not yet made much progress.
Apart from connectivity, tourism infrastructures include accessibility, accommodation, restaurants, tourist information centers, tour and travel services, tourist guides, shopping facilities, banking and money exchange facilities, tourist safety, tourism police, other facilities and services.
But barring the districts of Kohima and Dimapur, availability of quality accommodation is a big challenge in the rest of the districts of Nagaland. Besides, so far, there has been no planned destinations and development projects in those districts.
Additionally, the tourism sector is mainly focused only on Kohima district which in return restricts visitors from discovering more of the scenic beauty of Nagaland and its diverse cultures. It also generates ‘reluctancy’ in the visitors – locals, non-locals and international travelers alike – especially during the state’s biggest attraction, the Hornbill festival. It is a commonly accepted view that the more opportunities a traveler is given to discover, the more the visitors and hence, more the revenue. Thus, the rest of the districts must be integrated equally while laying out the map of tourism. This will not only lead to a better growth in the state’s economy but will benefit the locals in terms of employment and development.
Considering the huge diversity within Nagaland and how every district has something new or different to offer, the revenue generation is underwhelming and has not yet amalgamated into the potential it carries. The region has also been restrained from achieving its full potential mainly due to lack of infrastructures, logistics and its inability to connect or integrate with the rest of the country. Perhaps, its geographical location which gave Nagaland its magnificent landscape has also led to a logistical disadvantage as seven of the eight states of North-East can be connected to the rest of India only through a narrow strip of land known as the Siliguri corridor, popularly known as ‘Chicken’s neck’ of the country.
Thereby, considering that tourism is one of the main sources of revenue for the state, a revamp on the tourism sector is much needed. Ensuring availability of transportations, accommodations and a well-planned destination to every nook and cranny of the state can go a long way.
According to a report by FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) titled, ‘Emerging North-East India’, there are almost none to very few places that could accommodate more than 300 people in a business-leisure environment in Nagaland. And this could be improved by setting up Meeting, Incentives, Conference, Exhibition (MICE) tourism in cities like Dimapur as suggested by FICCI. Investment in infrastructure construction such as 3-4 Star hotels in the cities can attract corporates and big business players while heritage hotels and eco-resorts can be set up in the rest of the districts. Taking advantage of the picturesque locations, vast number of spas, health resorts, yoga retreats, and fitness centers can also be initiated. Such development can reduce the migration of skilled resources to other states and local employment can be considerably increased.
Nagaland, with its rich culture, is brightly embellished with folktales, myths, legends and historical places which are the actual treasures a tourist desire to explore; hence, focus must be made in capitalizing on such natural heritage.
Opportunities should be given to historians, anthropologists and scholars to identify each historical places and document it in the form of books and booklets where the former can be monetized and the latter be handed out to tourists.
Literary studies of various folklores and folktales of different regions of different districts can be encouraged and depict it in the form of dramas and plays. Community participation is a key element in the successful implementation of all tourism policies in the region. As such, focus should be given to involve the communities at the grassroots level, who are the real stakeholders. Creating awareness for community participation could be a way forward.
This will not only enhance the travelling experience but will give a more educational and an adventurous experience.
To add more values to the enchanting diversity of Nagaland, all major festivals of each tribe must be evenly recognized, celebrated and promoted, thereby, not limiting tourism to a particular place or festival alone. Such development will not only create jobs and generate revenue but will provide ample opportunities to exhibit cultures and traditions.
It can also be used to promote traditional handicrafts, local artisans, masonry, indigenous dishes and products endemic to the particular area. Moreover, in this hour of modernization, when cultures and traditions are in extreme peril, adopting such measures will enhance in preserving the opulent art, culture and history of Nagaland.
Also, promotion of the state using various media platforms including digital medias, traditional medias in the form of TV, radio, newspapers and magazines must be effectively done. Outdoor advertisement in the form of Nagaland guidebooks, leaflets and brochures and tourism maps should be distributed in places like the airport, railway stations in some targeted states and countries. And lastly, pan-NE bodies like the Northeast Tourism Council need to be strengthened.
