Ngathingkhui Jagoi
[dropcap]D[/dropcap]ecember is at our doorsteps. And, Nagaland is all set to receive hordes of tourists visiting the state again during the Hornbill Festival. The visitors will comprise a mix of state guests, business men, SHG’s from within the state and other parts of India, budget travellers and high end tourists. But all will have one interest to make the most during the festival. The only differentiating will be the concept of a ‘good time’ amongst the different groups.The 10-day extravaganza, will see the guests tasting Zutho the local rice brew , watch Nagas dance with Hornbill feathers on headgears as they swing their hands and feet in rhythmic moves. They will also witness Nagas munching huge slice of pork pieces or gobble the fiery Naga King chilly for prizes. Surely, the tourists would also have glimpses of Naga handicrafts, relics, taste food items and lots more. Many of these guests would wonder how expensive Naga’s products are!
Besides these, one remarkable experience they would obviously have is - the ride on bumpy and dusty roads of Nagaland. For those tourists who have taken a ride in the Sahara sand dunes or the rocky Himalayan peaks would basically feel nothing. However, for the first timers, to take such harsh and back breaking rides in taxis would perhaps, be the most unforgettable memory would linger on even when they go back home. After all contented and happy ending stories don’t make good stories. This is why guests should see the miserable part of the state too. However, as for the state government, this might somewhat be an embarrassment. Simply because, the road infrastructures do not match with the ‘Land of Festivals’ tag of Nagaland and its objective to woo tourists and boost tourism.
Nevertheless, tourism industry comes in two forms – one with revenue; the other with spoils. The first obviously is what every citizen of a state longs for. The tourism industry encompasses many areas, so it also creates jobs in many different areas. Tourism, means hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies, tour companies, service stations, souvenir shops, sports equipment rentals, and much more. All of this creates many different levels of employment for people in a given community. It will also allow local people an opportunity for economic and educational growth that would not otherwise be available.
In addition, it allows both the tourist and the local community a chance to interact with other cultures, which broadens understanding. If properly used, tourism generated income can be tremendously beneficial to the host state and its local communities. Income generated from tourism has been the mainstay of the economy of many countries. Individuals also benefit but so does the state.
In Nagaland with Hornbill being a one off extravaganza with only individuals benefiting and not the state whose expenses are known to mount during this season. Much more needs to be done for tourism to be regarded as an income generator by the people of the state and as a year round investment.
The paradox of tourism as a money making industry is that it comes with many strings attached.
The over sell of a destination or place leads to pressures on the infrastructure of a place and also cultural adulteration if the host place is not strongly rooted in its own culture and traditions.
Many people are not aware about these impacts. Not every visitor would act to support the traditional cultural legacy of the state. Chances are that many tourists would engage in illegal activities – human trafficking, trading artifacts, drugs, spread of disease, etc while locals embrace negative lifestyles and illegal economic activities.
On the other hand posing itself as a tourist friendly destination development in Nagaland will have to see the improvement of, human resources, air connectivity, better roads, a working and efficient public transport system, sanitation and water in the villages, a controlled pricing mechanisms of food, hotel tariff, taxi fares , guide fees and standardized and certified handicraft items.
Inferior handicraft products are doing more harm to the publicity of locally produced items. Woven items made with dyes that bleed and unseasoned bamboo and wooden products vulnerable to woodworms do extreme damage for the future marketing of Naga handicrafts whose potential has remained unexplored.
While we welcome and facilitate tourism in a bid to leverage from the burgeoning global travel and trade, we need to weigh the pros and cons – the revenue and benefits from tourists and the activities of the tourist that might be detrimental to the values, environment and culture of the community in the long run.
Only then we can be ready meet the objectives of the strategically outlined principle of, ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (Guest is God) by the Ministry of Tourism. After all, ‘Safe and Honourable Tourism’ is not only meant for the tourists but also for the local residents too.
While we consider ‘Guest as God and tourists as gods’, it is paramount that we can’t afford to sacrifice our values. In other words, while looking at the moon, we need to make it a point that the flowers underneath are not trampled.
(The writer can be reached at
njagoi@yahoo.com)
