KOHIMA, Oct 2 � There is still a long way to go in terms of proper infrastructure and preparedness for mass tourism in Nagaland. While aggressive advertisement is stated to be a pre-requisite to bring in tourists, the State still lacks adequate facilities to meet the basic needs of visitors.
Joint Director of Tourism Thomas said here recently �We already have a problem during the mega Hornbill Festival when hotels are overbooked during this time of year�. He voiced particular concern on the lack of good hotels that meet the standards and underscored the need for good infrastructure, good water supply, hygienic food and a clean environment.
He also said tourists come to enjoy �nature as well as food� while citing instances of unavailability of food in hotels during Sundays and shabby conditions of most hotels. �Our people have to be ready to serve food for other people on Sundays as well,� he pointed out.
The Tourism official asserted that the department alone cannot promote tourism and impressed upon the need for concerted efforts from all sections of the society including Church groups, civil organisations, etc.
Dwelling on this year�s theme of World Tourism Day celebrations, namely, �Tourism and Biodiversity� , the Tourism official was of the opinion that it is more relevant to those places attracting a large number of tourists while stating that when tourists come in big numbers, they tend to destroy biodiversity. It, therefore, seeks to address the stakeholders and others on the need to safeguard biodiversity, he said.
As he pointed out, the State is not getting huge numbers of tourists as yet, but there is a need for tourist guides and the general public need to be aware so that visiting tourists do not destroy plants, animals, micro-organisms since Nagaland is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world.
