Mokokchung, 2 August (MTNews): In an attempt to promote tourism in the village, the Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society initiated the celebration of Tsüngremmung festival in the village at Longrangtenem Park, with Keduosieu Metha, Director of Tourism Department, Nagaland as special guest who also inaugurated a Multi-Utility Hall in the park on behalf of Nagaland Tourism Minister, Temjen Imna Along.
The festivity began with the unveiling of the inaugural plaque by the Director of Tourism followed by the Village Council Chairman delivering the welcome address and the Mopungchuket Medemsanger Putu presenting a folk song.
Limalenden Longkumer, Convenor, Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society presented a note on ‘Vision Mopungchuket Tourism’ where he highlighted the profile of the village, stating that Mopungchuket is a land of history, cultural and natural heritage, legends and myths, known for conservations efforts and cleanliness. He also mentioned the various sites of tourist interest and tourism activities functioning in the village.
He mentioned that Longrangtenem Park will be the second community-owned park after Süngkotenem Park in the village and that the society hopes to transform it into a proper resort in the long run. He also stated that the village had about 9000 visitors in 2019. With the COVID pandemic, tourism activities in the village were brought to a grinding halt but the Society hopes to revive and double the tourist footfall in the village, he said.
Regarding the vision of Mopungchuket Tourism, he said that the village aspires to position itself as a major tourism destination in Nagaland, to contribute to the growth of Nagaland tourism, and in the process create an enabling environment for the community to earn their livelihood while preserving the uniqueness of the region as a whole. He also urged for handholding support from the tourism department to achieve its vision.
Keduosieu Mehta, Director, Department of Tourism, Govt of Nagaland unveiled the Mopungchuket Tourism logo and spoke on behalf of the Tourism Department. She began her speech by acknowledging the effort of the Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society in organizing the Tsüngremmung festival.
The Director mentioned about the NEC funded project which she said began in 2013 but could not be completed due to various hurdles and the pandemic in between. She said that the hall and the various development works is an investment and said that the building is now in the hands of its true owners, that is the community of Mopungchuket.
She added that it is the role of the people to utilize the available resources to its optimum potential and encouraged the Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society to work continuously towards promoting tourism in the state and also to engage the young people and offer them employment opportunities through tourism. She added that the Tourism Department is ready to help the Society in all ways they can.
Tazülenden Cultural Society, Mopungchuket Watsü Telen, MALT, ARSA and Mopungchuket Medemsanger Putu presented various cultural items at the festival which was followed by a Tsüngremmung Feast.