Kohima: Abu Metha, Adviser to Nagaland Chief Minister, on Tuesday said the state government is working out ways to give a boost to experiential tourism in the state.
Addressing locals during the 20th cultural day cum Sühkrühnyie celebration at Phüsachodü village, Metha said that Nagaland has rich heritage, culture, handloom and handicrafts, which can be promoted.
He assured that plans are being formulated to promote local tourism, which in turn will boost the local economy.
Due to COVID-19, the tourism industry across the world has been badly affected and Nagaland is no exception. He said that the government was doing its best to promote tourism and the Hornbill Festival, known as the ‘festivals of festivals’, has gone to become a popular festival across the world.
With the present government’s policy of the ‘land of festivals’, Metha said the various tribes of Nagaland and their unique tradition and culture needs to be promoted and shown to the world.
This, according to him, will help boost the local economy and create employment opportunities. He informed that as per a survey, about 8,500 youth receive employment through the annual 10-day Hornbill Festival.
With a total investment of Rs 5 crore made by the state government for the festival, he said that a total of over Rs 100 crores are generated during the mega festival.
The tourism policy, he said, now covers all districts through Mini Hornbill festivals with the aim to promote local tourism and provide an opportunity for the locals to benefit through such initiatives.
While Metha launched the Phüsachodü village walk, he assured to promote the village walk and bring other developmental activities to the village. He urged the locals to co-operate with the government, assuring them that the government will do it’s best to put the village on the national tourism map.
Further, he said that for the Naga youth to progress, there should be good governance. If Nagas are to rise as a nation and be recognised by the world people, he said that the society must lay its foundation on meritocracy and combat corruption and manipulation.
The only way to strengthen transparency is through use of technology and to strengthen the foundation of education, he said. While he encouraged the youth to strive for the best, he urged the leaders to give hope to the youth.
Adviser to the Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA), Theja Meru, who was one of the guests of honour, encouraged the local youth to dream big, work hard and make their dreams come true.
He advised them to have a sense of competition in everything they do and connect with the changing trends of the world, going beyond the boundaries of the state.
Director of Tourism, Ajanuo Belho, hoped that the launching of the village walk will enhance the beauty of Phek district and give a big boost to the rural tourism. She assured that the department is committed to promote tourism across the state.
Member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Chotisuh Sazo, a native of Phüsachodü village, said the concept of a village walk was conceived to showcase the traditional village life in its simple and unpolluted form, besides promoting trekking, and other rural eco-tourism activities.
He hoped that the launch of the village walk will also provide employment opportunities to the locals and at the same time improve the local economy.
The 20th cultural day cum Sühkrühnyie celebration was organised by the Phüsachodümi Youth Society (PYS).
During the celebration, locals in their traditional attires displayed folk dance, folk songs, and other traditional games.
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