GUWAHATI, Nov 4 - Books published by the NCERT should have more detailed information about the history, culture, people, lifestyle, destinations, etc., of India�s vastly unexplored but picturesque mosaic of ethnicity and biodiversity hotspots.
This was the consensus highlight at a seminar on �Destination Northeast and Awesome Assam� held as part of the ongoing North East Festival organised in New Delhi.
�The NCERT can play the role of an amplifier to promote the lesser known but magnificent North-east among the young generation of pan-India by incorporating detailed information about the region in its textbooks. It will make the task easier of the governments and other stakeholders to bring the region into the thick of tourism sector in the country,� the speakers said.
Distinguished speakers in the seminar including former Tourism Secretary of Government of India, MP Bezboruah, adviser to Bodoland Tourism Partha Das, Assam Tourism official Nibedita Hazarika, Human Resources development expert Rajib Baruah, prominent tour operator from the North-east Tridib Sharma made a clear statement that the region needed be sold with more vigour through involvement of people, especially youths.
They observed that a huge pool of skilled manpower must be created to popularise destinations in the region through innovative ways as tourism is a very competitive industry.
�Tourism is no longer about selling beaches and sand. Future tourism is all about facilitating people to experience the life and culture of people of the destinations besides picturesque locations. The North-east where the tourists don�t go to experience five-star lifestyle has ample scope to offer the tourist to experience ways of life of ethnic people of the pristine region,� Bezboruah said, adding that tourism is a journey of imagination and cited example of Disneyland in this regard.
All the speakers and other stakeholders participating in the seminar underscored the need to promote home-stay and involvement of locals in selling destinations in the region.
The chief organiser of the festival, Shyamkanu Mahanta, said that the region had everything like scenic beauty, ample scope for adventure and nature tourism, wildlife and other ecological assets.