Kohima: Nagaland Tourism Commissioner and Secretary Arelna Jamir on Saturday emphasized that tourism should not only be about taking from a place but also about giving back to its people, land, and culture.
Speaking at a programme themed “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” to mark World Tourism Day, Jamir said Nagaland, known as the “Land of Festivals”, holds immense potential to showcase its unique blend of culture and nature through attractions such as the Hornbill Festival, Dzükou Valley, handwoven textiles, tribal cuisines, and eco-tourism initiatives.
While acknowledging that tourism can create livelihoods and help preserve identity, she cautioned that unchecked growth could also result in environmental degradation, cultural dilution, and inequality.
Jamir highlighted several departmental initiatives, including community-based tourism, eco-camps, skill development programmes for youth as cultural ambassadors, eco-tourism projects with strict ecological safeguards, and digital promotion using virtual reality to manage tourist inflows.
She further informed that collaborations with NGOs and international agencies are underway to align Nagaland’s tourism strategies with global sustainability goals.
Stressing that sustainable transformation requires collective responsibility, Jamir urged communities, private stakeholders, NGOs, and tourists to work together with the government. She also encouraged the youth to become “cultural entrepreneurs and custodians of tradition,” and invited visitors to explore Nagaland with “open hearts and responsible intentions.”
A major highlight of the programme was the recognition of Khonoma — India’s first Green Village — under the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages Upgrade Programme 2022.
Neikedolie Hiekha, chairman of the Khonoma Upgrade Programme, said the recognition acknowledges the village’s pioneering role in community-led conservation and sustainable tourism. He recalled Khonoma’s hunting ban, forest preservation efforts, and the establishment of the Tragopan Sanctuary, which have transformed the village into a model for conservation-based livelihoods through homestays, eco-treks, and handicrafts.
The event also featured Nino Zhasa, winner of the 2024 Best Tour Operator Award, who shared how community-led tourism has revitalized Kigwema village — empowering women entrepreneurs and preserving the area’s cultural authenticity.
