The market researches show that ecotourists are more interested in the nature, organic food and wilderness. According to experts, the 16th Indian Nagaland state can be ideal for adventure and eco-tourism.
The Indian Nagaland state was formed on December 1, 1963. Nagaland's economic development was disrupted due to violence and insecurity. Since the 1950s, the state has experienced insurgency, as well as inter-ethnic conflict. That is why the 16th state had to commit its scarce resources to law, order, and security. English is the official language and the language of education. Nagaland is one of three states in India where the population is mostly Christian. Agriculture is the most important economic activity. Forestry, tourism, insurance, real estate, and miscellaneous cottage industries are also of importance. Nagaland is mostly mountainous except those areas bordering Assam valley, which comprises 9 percent of the total area of the state. Mount Saramati is the highest 3,840-metre peak. Its range forms a natural barrier between Nagaland and Burma.
In the Nagaland villages, a tourism project has been initiated with an increased focus on conservation named ‘Eco Nagaland’ and it has two components: conservation and community-based ecotourism. Within the framework of the project, the villagers are given support, provided with basic training on housekeeping; booking and accounting; planning and management; hospitality; spoken English, and others. All this empowers them and connect them to people who help in sustaining a conservative way of livelihood while implementing ecotourism.
The creators of the ‘Eco Nagaland’ project hope that it can strengthen the community-based conservation initiatives and support forest-based livelihoods. The project is implemented by the North-East Initiative Development Agency (NEIDA) Nagaland through the Village Tourism Development Board (VTDB) supported by the Tata Trust.
Natural beauty in its varied forms is the state’s major asset with its lush green vegetation having interesting flora and fauna, deep valleys with glistening streams, natural lakes, hill agriculture and pleasant climate throughout the year.
Since ancient times, the local population, Nagas, in their traditional homeland are known to live in harmony with their natural environment and the forests are eternally sacred to them. The advent of Christianity and modern education has also played a role in shaping the present Naga society.
Additionally, the Nagaland’s history, ethnic tribal culture reflected through folk dances, music, festivals, handicrafts and the mysticism associated with the customs and ways of living of its hill tribes have been the source of great curiosity to not only Indians but people all over the world. It is a land of charm, diverse in landscape, culture and it offers opportunities for a whole range of tourism activities, which to date has remained largely untapped.
The tourism sector was formed in Nagaland in the year 1981. Though tourism in the state has been growing slowly, the number of domestic tourists has ranged from 52,000 to 65,000 per year. The foreign tourists visiting the state have ranged from about 2,000 to 5,000 per year.
Nagaland has enormous prospects for ecotourism. It can act as one of the driving force for the overall socio-economic development of the state. The Nagaland state government understand that it is necessary to start seeing sustainable tourism as part of a sustainable development system. Realizing the importance of the tourism sector for the socio-economic development of the state, the Nagaland state government had declared tourism as a ‘Priority Sector’ under the State Industrial Policy of Nagaland 2000. Strong emphasis is on the ecotourism and preservation of Nagaland’s cultural heritage and biodiversity of the state.
The government has already implemented a number of measures aimed at creating a favourable environment for the development of tourism in Nagaland.
The facilities available in its airport, railway and bus station have been upgraded. In addition to this, the state has issued special permits to travel agents and tour operators that are registered with the Department of Tourism, Nagaland. The work is underway to issue licences to the hotels and lodges registered under the State Tourist Trade Act. The ‘Homestays’ or ‘Special Paying Guest’ schemes will provide affordable and hygienic accommodation for both domestic and foreign tourists.
The Nagas equipped with the old traditional values and modern education can play a significant role in the ecotourism and sustainable tourism development. The Nagaland's tourism resources are huge, but the state still has a long way to go to develop tourism.
The lines of ecotourism in Nagaland
- Agritourism in Nagaland allows tourists to master various agricultural activities, go back to the basics, lead a rustic life, learn how their food is produced...
- Adventure or Sports Tourism and Nagaland are perfect for each other. The nature has blessed Nagaland with lofty mountain and hills and spiralling trekking routes. The state is ideal for adventure and sport tourism such as mountaineering, trekking, zip-lining, gliding, and mountain biking, cycling, rafting, fishing.
- Trips to places of historical and cultural heritage - this you can also take in Nagaland. One can visit the War Cemetery, Kohima; Khonoma Village, Medieval Kachari Kingdom Ruins, Dimapur; and so on.
- Music Tourism is also possible in Nagaland. Music is an integral part of the Nagas’ life, the oral tradition is kept alive through the media of folk tales and songs. Nagaland is the first state in India to have introduced ‘music as an industry’. The Music Task Force of Nagaland was created by the government to encourage Naga musicians to take up music as a profession rather than a hobby. The Hornbill National Rock Contest is an integral event of the Hornbill Festival. It is a National-level contest and boasts of being the longest music festival in the country.
- Monsoon Tourism is among the traveler attractions that Nagaland is going to develop and invite the tourists to enjoy its nature in monsoon when everything is so green and drenched.
- Wellness/Herbal Tourism is among Nagaland’s promising tourism anchors, its forests have a rich bio-diversity, especially in terms of flora. The state is one of the 25 hotspots regions of the world in terms of bio-diversity. Nagaland has forests covering an area of 13,318 sq. km and possesses a vast variety of herbal and medicinal plants. The indigenous people in the remote regions of Nagaland have the innate knowledge for herbal medicines and massages.
- Rural Tourism in Nagaland allows you to immerse yourself in another linguistic and sociocultural environment, get to know its history, people and culture by living it. It emphasizes different areas of local life - culinary, culture, history, shopping, nature or social life.
- MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism is also offered in Nagaland. It is one of the fastest growing in the global tourism industry. Nagaland has the potential to attract private investments in the tourism sector.
The tourism sector in Nagaland could become a significant public sector industry. This fast-growing industry could provide tremendous socio-economic benefits to the state with multiplier effects. The ecotourism in Nagaland can give the rural people the opportunity to have a more sustainable and alternate means of livelihood. However, all of these prospects will depend on the political stability and security in this northeastern state of India.
