Tourism

INTRODUCTION

Tourism has become one of the most flourishing industries in the world. Today, it is the second largest and fastest growing industry, next only to the petroleum industry. Worldwide, tourism is emerging as one of the biggest employers compared to any other economic sector. It offers opportunities for economic, cultural and political exchanges, generates employment, foreign exchange and raises living standards. It facilitates social integration and international understanding.

The vast potential and the need for rapid development was recognised only in the Seventh Plan, subsequent to which tourism was accorded the status of an Industry, thereby encouraging private investments in this sector.

The national action plan for tourism (1992), defines the objectives of tourism development in India and the primary strategy for its development:

a. It is a unifying and a nation-building force, through fostering greater national and international understanding, particularly amongst the youth of the country.

b. It serves to preserve and enrich India’s cultural heritage.

c. It brings socio-economic benefits.

The strategy for achieving these objectives has been outlined as:

a. Improvement of tourist infrastructure

b. Developing areas on a selective basis for integrated growth, along with the marketing of destinations on the basis of a ‘Special Tourism Area’ concept.

c. Restructuring and strengthening of institutions for development of human resources.

d. Evolving a suitable policy for increasing foreign tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings.

Environmental Parameters: Any development has to consider its possible adverse impacts on the surrounding environment and the conservation of various ecological elements must be considered as a priority obligation. Tourism development projects generally tend to be within ecologically

sensitive regions such as hills, seashores, lakes, rivers, national parks/sanctuaries, and heritage sites. Insensitive and haphazard planning for tourism development can ruin these regions of natural heritage. The tourism development plan for a region must carry out environmental impact assessment and work out sustainable management strategies.

In the case of Mizoram, which lies in the ecologically sensitive region of the northeast India, the priority consideration for tourism development should be environmental and ecological conservation. The region also has very rich ethnic tribal culture and the whole tourism development plan should be sensitive to all the heritage parameters.

Considering the unique and environmentally fragile region of northeast India in general, and Mizoram in particular, it is almost imperative that the tourism planning of the region should evolve around the concept of Eco-tourism.

Tourism development in Northeast India & Mizoram: It is unfortunate that due to socio-political and geographical reasons, the entire Northeast has remained neglected and backward from the development point of view. In spite of very high literacy rate in the region (around 80%), progress and benefits have not reached the Northeast even today. The concept of Tourism development is very recent in this region and is in its infancy. A few states like Sikkim and Assam have taken a few strides in developing tourism, with emphasis on eco-tourism, wildlife tourism, cultural tourism and adventure tourism. The other states have also commenced their efforts during the last decade.

However, the tourism development of the Northeast region needs to be targeted via a regional approach rather than an individual state approach. The basic needs for tourism development of the region are efficient infrastructure, good connectivity between the states and peace in the region. The entry permit formality required for a few states for both domestic and international tourists is a major deterrent to the region’s tourism attractiveness.

Objectives of the Study: The Department of Tourism, Govt. of India commissioned this study in order to prepare a 20-year perspective plan for the sustainable development of tourism in various Indian states with the following major objectives:

a. Prepare a 20-year perspective plan for developing sustainable tourism in the state, providing a phased programme while considering the available resources

b. Indicate short-term and long-term plans, targets and ground realities

c. Indicate all activities to be undertaken by different agencies with a definite time frame to achieve these activities

d. Assess the existing tourism scenario in the state with respect to natural resources, heritage and other socio-cultural assets, quantitative and demographic factors such as population, employment, occupation, income levels, services and infrastructure.

 TOURISM IN MIZORAM:

Mizoram, a mountainous region that became the 23rd state of the Indian Union in February 1987, is sandwiched between Myanmar in the east and the south and Bangladesh and Tripura in the west with its northern frontiers touching Assam and Manipur. Mizoram hills are steep and run north – south and are separated by rivers, which flow in between creating deep gorges. The Mizo community is changing fast and adopting western culture. Many of the present customs are mixtures of their old tradition and western style of life. Mizoram has the highest literacy rate (95%) in the country and people are peaceful and hospitable.

The young state of Mizoram is economically weak and is entirely dependent on its agriculture. Inefficient infrastructure and poor connectivity are the major deterrents for tourists. The entry permit formality for both domestic and international tourists is another hurdle for tourists. However, the State Department of Tourism has developed satisfactory tourist facilities, within a short span of its activity. The state has excellent potential for tourism development with emphasis on eco-tourism and adventure tourism. However the success of its tourism highly depends on the infrastructure development of the entire Northeast region.

Agriculture is the major occupation of the people of Mizoram. Shifting cultivation (Jhumming) is pre-dominantly practiced in Mizoram, which has degraded the natural forests of Mizoram to a very large extent. Presently, efforts are on to wean away the farmers from the destructive practice of Jhumming and to adopt new and sustainable agricultural practices.

The state situated in the transitional region of tropical and temperate environment is also bestowed with hills having steep slopes, deep valleys, rivers, natural lakes, plains etc. thus creating varied ecosystems in a relatively small region.

The forests of Mizoram could be broadly classified as:

North – Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest

South – Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest

East – Subtropical Pine Forest (mixed with broad leaved species)

However, for a state like Mizoram, which is blessed with natural resources, any attempt of socio-economic development has to be considered with utmost concern for the natural environment. And considering this factor alone agriculture and tourism could be the best alternatives for the bright future of Mizoram. The status of tourism is reflected in the following statistical data of tourist visits in the northeast and Mizoram: