Engaging with homestays in the villages will immensely help in promoting rural tourism.
Neidilhoutuo Sechü
KOHIMA, MAY 7
Very few of us are aware that home-stays in rural areas have become an integral part of the tourism industry in Nagaland.
The concept of ‘Homestay’ was introduced in the State of late, nevertheless, it is encouraging to know that the visitors, both foreign and local, have been ‘very welcoming’ to accept this concept of accommodation which involves the participation of the villagers.
Though tourism is a booming industry in the North East region today, except Sikkim and parts of Assam, the rest of the NE states still have miles to go in order to make tourism a flourishing industry.
The north east region, blessed with a beautiful topography filled with rich flora and fauna and a culture so unique from the rest of the world, has so much scope and potential in the field of tourism. Yet, for so long, the region has failed to even discover its potentials and utilize the resources to its advantage. The region is also listed among the 25 hotspot biodiversities in the world, and this was also announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Nagaland to grace the Hornbill Festival 2014.
Hindered by the decade-long political issue, Nagaland as a State has considerably failed to discover many of its potentials for so long, and this includes the tourism sector. However, we are happy to learn that there has been progress in the tourism sector, of late.
Not only during the season of the Hornbill festival, the inflow of tourists have been on the rise on other months, over the years. Though Hornbill festival covers a major part in describing the success story of tourism, yet, there is much more beyond the activities at Kisama Heritage village, if at all the government has to come up with a State Tourism Policy.
The credit for more inflow of tourists also needs to be given to the various stakeholders/travel agencies associated with the State’s Tourism department. It must be noted that there are more than 20 registered stakeholders in the State, however, the number counts down heavily on two or three active stakeholders who have been toiling hard to promote tourism in the State, meanwhile, making an earning for themselves too.
Talking to Eastern Mirror, Kevichülie Meyase, proprietor of Alder Tours & Travels, said he along with his team have been travelling the stretch of Nagaland and the north eastern states, discovering out what NE and Nagaland in particular can offer to the tourism world.
According to the stakeholders, majority of the tourists visit the State to witness the Naga culture and also to experience nature, mostly on wildlife and adventure. And when away from Kohima or Dimapur, the homestay(s) in the villages becomes the most ideal places for accommodation.
“There is much more beyond providing accommodation,” Meyase said adding that there is a kind of give-and-take from both the service providers (home stay owners) and the visitors. He further said that there are some tourists who prefer homestays rather than staying in the hotels at Kohima or Dimapur.
Mention be made that the Alder Tours & Travels have reached out to villages in the districts of Kohima, Phek, Peren, Mokokchung, Mon and as far as Maram in Manipur to encourage villagers to come up with home stays. The villages some of the stakeholders have been covering at the moment include, Khonoma, Mezoma, Dzüleke under Kohima district, Khezhakeno (Phek), Benreu (Peren) Mopungchukhet (Mokokchung) and Maram Khullen under Senapati district in Manipur.
“The visitors get to learn more about the lifestyle of the Nagas when they spend the night with the villagers. The homestay(s) also creates an opportunity for the tourists to interact with the villagers and further to spend quality time with them. As for the villagers, it’s always a learning process when visitors from far and near come to be their guest(s),” Meyase remarked adding “Homestays are developed not only for profit motives, but also to use it as a medium to promote culture.”
It was learnt that during peak season (Hornbill festival), homestays in the villages also provide alternative for accommodating the visitors. Co-partner of Alder Tours & Travels, Kejaroko Pier also underscored the need to promote homestays as this is where tourists get to experience and witness the real and existing lifestyle of the Naga people.
Stating that tribal lifestyle is one major attraction for most of the tourists who comes to Nagaland, Pier maintained that instead of hotels, homestays will be the most ideal places for visitors to witness the tribal lifestyle.
“By engaging with the homestay(s), we are reaching out to the villagers. And by involving the villagers, we are helping them to earn as well as educating them in the process,” he stated.
On a query as to what kind of homestay(s) are being preferred by the tourists, Pier said, a house with neat and tidy rooms with proper bathroom is what satisfies the visitors.
“By opting to stay in the villages, the tourists do not envy for concrete buildings which have all kinds of modern facilities, but a house with neat and tidy rooms attached with properly maintained bathrooms,” he said adding “the Nagas are widely appreciated by outsiders for their hospitality.”
With the government yet to come up with a State Tourism Policy, Pier lamented stating that the government is not giving due attention to promote tourism in the State.
“Tourism is one aspect where Nagas can also make a livelihood out of it,” Pier said making a comparison with Sikkim where majority of the population depends on tourism for livelihood.
He also stressed the need to develop holiday destination, which the government has failed to come up so far. “A State Tourism Policy is what is needed at the first place, because unless we have a policy, it’s not going to help the tourism industry to progress much, because we become visionless and without a target,” he maintained.
“For tourism to grow in the State, the government should also share its interest and concern on other areas, rather than being fully engaged with the Hornbill festival,” he said adding “there is so much more to explore and learn, but the lack of adequate funds has always been the stumbling block.”
Going by the success story in the tourism sector, no doubt, Sikkim has gone way too far as compared to other states in the northeast. Apart from Tripura and Mizoram, states like Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur are starting to make progress in the field of tourism.
We talk much about Nagaland’s possibility to offer much in the tourism sector, for its richness in culture, blessed with a plethora of flora and fauna, and lush green nature’s bounty. No doubt, the hospitality sector is where we (Nagas) can be graded above anybody else in the world.
As of now, the scope and potential of tourism in the State is not a matter of great concern. As stated by Kejaroko Pier, it’s time the government come up with a State Tourism Policy, following which, the idea and vision to promote tourism will make its progress year after year.
Instead of copying and borrowing from others, what we have is always our best resource. Engaging with homestays in the villages will immensely help in promoting rural tourism. Step by step, we will make progress, but it’s better late than never.
