Workshop on tourism transformation held in Mopungchuket village

MOPUNGCHUKET — The Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society (MCTS) marked its 25th anniversary with a one-day workshop on tourism transformation on the theme ‘Reflect, reconnect, reimagine’ at Longrangtenem Park, Mopungchuket village, Mokokchung district, on Friday.

The event, commemorating MCTS’s inception in 2001, brought together 22 stakeholder groups-including the Mopungchuket Village Council, church representatives, women and youth leaders, student bodies, school teachers, self-help groups, cultural organisations, and community members.

The workshop also reflected on past achievements, addressed challenges, and charted a visionary path for Mopungchuket as a premier tourism destination.

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Limalenden Longkumer, Convener of MCTS, opened the workshop, outlining its objectives: to reflect on 25 years of community tourism, reconnect stakeholders to a shared vision, reimaging Mopungchuket’s tourism potential, and draft a community-driven roadmap for the next decade.

 “This workshop is a milestone to celebrate our journey and shape a sustainable future for our village,” he said, urging the need for collective action to elevate Mopungchuket’s tourism landscape.

Amba Jamir, policy and development strategist and the workshop’s resource person, termed the event as a “day of revival, reflection, and rallying.”

He stressed the necessity of a shared, community-owned vision for holistic village development, noting, “When a community lacks vision, even tireless efforts fall short of meaningful progress,” he said.

Jamir highlighted the absence of such a vision as a persistent challenge across Naga society, urging Mopungchuket to lead by example in community-based tourism (CBT).

 “In CBT, tourists are guests, not consumers. The community must lead to ensure everyone benefits,” he said.

Challenging the notion that tourism requires grand infrastructure, he asserted Mopungchuket’s strengths are governance, food, cultural practices, stories, and ancient wisdom- as the true drivers of authentic tourism.

 “Tourism thrives not because of buildings but because of who we are,” he asserted.

Addressing cultural and environmental concerns, Jamir lamented the decline of indigenous food varieties due to reduced farming, urging the revival of agricultural practices as a cornerstone of the tourism ecosystem.

He underscored women’s critical role in tourism-related activities, such as traditional crafts and hospitality, calling for their recognition and support. He also raised alarm over the fading of cultural knowledge—lullabies, folk tales, and rituals—and advocated for documentation and intergenerational transmission to preserve these intangible heritage elements.

Jamir highlighted Mopungchuket’s unique assets, including the legend of Jina and Etiben, Ao Naga heritage, a clean environment, and infrastructure like rest houses, scenic trails, and accessible roads.

The workshop featured a participatory exercise, dividing stakeholders into three groups to propose solutions in systems and management, revenue generation, and authenticity and migration.

The event concluded with a collective pledge by the 22 stakeholder groups to revitalise tourism, reinforcing their commitment to cultural survival, ecological stewardship, and an intergenerational legacy.

The roadmap drafted during the event aims to enhance infrastructure, engage youth, and preserve cultural authenticity while positioning the village as a model for sustainable tourism in Nagaland.