High on Happiness index and banking on its “Responsible tourism policy”, Mizoram has chalked out grand plans to draw tourists to its lush green hills and forests.
State Principal Secretary (Tourism) Manisha Saxena said Covid-pandemic hit Mizoram quite late, so the State was last one to open up to the tourists. This affected Mizoram’s tourism earnings and livelihood of many, she said.
“But now as cases have sharply declined, we have almost started as a blank tourism slate and taking several steps to cash in on our untapped potential for tourism which has lot to offer from mesmerising landscape, lush green hills to captivating topography,” Saxena said at the International Tourism Mart 2022 here.
However, to ensure that tourism development activities do not compromise the fragile ecology of the State, Mizoram has framed the Responsible Tourism Policy, 2020.
With 90 per cent of the State’s area under forest cover and its attitude and pleasant climate being strong points, there is an ample scope for eco-tourism and adventure tourism also, offering a dream destination to enterprising tourists.
“The fact that Mizoram has joined other States in the region to hold the edition of the prestigious ITM itself indicates that the state is safe for the visitors,” Saxena told The Pioneer on the second day of the event.
Mizoram can proudly boast to be the happiest State in India as per the India Happiness Report, 2020 and has a high literacy rate of 91.33. The happiness index is based on six parameters: family relationship and friendship, work-related issues such as income and growth, social issues and philanthropy, religion or spiritual affiliation, Covid-19’s effect on happiness and physical and mental health.
She said a string of projects are coming up in the state such as a pilot project on a bamboo link road, which would connect the bamboo potential areas in Mizoram with all-weather main roads. The first of its kind in the country, the projects has been sanctioned by the Centre
“We are also open to outsourcing our properties on a revenue sharing basis, PPP mode as well as diversifying by including almost every activity as tourism activity, from fisheries, horticulture to agriculture among others. We are also in talks with various hotel chains to open up a five star hotel in Aizawl, to begin with. Also, various tourist hotspots are being developed. For instance, Thenzawl in Serchhip District is being developed as major tourist hotspots with Golf Course and resort being constructed under the centrally-sponsored scheme, Swadesh Darshan.
“It is rated as one of the best all season Golf courses in North East India,” she claimed out adding that every project will have climate resilient features to ensure sustainable development.
Secretary Tourism Arvind Singh too echoed Saxena’s views and said sustainability has been a priority for the travel, tourism, and hospitality sector for some time, but it has become even more prominent due to the pandemic.
“The demand for green tourism is growing as people are becoming more conscious of their impact on the environment and are looking for more sustainable travel options. The Central Government is now focused on promoting the move towards green tourism which has the potential to catalyse local economies, while also minimising the environmental and social impacts.
If Mizoram is banking on its sustainability and mystical tourist hotspot, other states in the region are showcasing natural beauty, rich biodiversity, rare wildlife, historical sites, and distinct cultural and ethnic heritage to attract tourists.
The region offers unforgettable wildlife tourism, tea and golf tourism, river tourism, religious and spiritual tourism, heritage tourism, cultural and culinary tourism, adventure tourism, agro and rural tourism and offbeat destinations.
