Aizawl, Oct 13 (PTI) Mizoram Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar on Tuesday called for greater community participation in tourism promotion while emphasising the need to preserve the state’s rich cultural heritage and natural resources.
Inaugurating the three-day Mizoram Travel Fest at Aijal Club here, Hmar said that tourism in the state is witnessing visible growth and stressed the importance of promoting community-based tourism without compromising Mizo traditions and culture.
He said that cooperation among tourism professionals, tour operators and local communities is crucial for developing the sector, adding that traditional Mizo values such as helping those in need, caring for others and extending hospitality to visitors could be important assets in attracting tourists.
Hmar said that festivals organised to attract visitors also create livelihood opportunities for local communities and cited the recent ‘Tlaizawng’ (Cherry Blossom) flower festival at Phuaibuang in Saitual district near the Manipur border as an example.
He said that tourism is increasingly expanding beyond Aizawl as rural areas offer visitors opportunities to experience authentic Mizo cuisine and traditions.
The minister announced that the government would continue to upgrade tourist lodges under the Tourism department and said that privately run homestays also played an important role in accommodating visitors.
He said that homestays could generate employment opportunities for youths and women and urged operators to maintain high standards of hospitality and cleanliness.
Describing the Association of Tour Operators Mizoram (ATOM) as an important link between the state and tourists, Hmar urged tour operators to promote lesser-known destinations.
He said that even local residents had not explored many of Mizoram’s scenic locations, underlining the need to showcase them more widely.
Emphasising the state’s forest wealth, Hmar said Mizoram’s natural beauty was a major attraction for tourists and needed to be protected by the younger generation.
He called for promotion of eco-tourism without damaging forests and wildlife and said that efforts should also be made to reduce single-use plastic in tourism-related activities.
Hmar also highlighted Mizoram’s potential as a destination for research and educational visits, saying the Tourism department would work with the Environment, Forests and Climate Change Department and Mizoram University to facilitate visits by students to different parts of the state.
He further stressed the growing importance of social media in tourism promotion and urged people to use digital platforms to showcase Mizoram’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
“Tourists should see not only the beauty of Mizoram but also experience the values and way of life of its people,” he said, stressing the need for collective efforts to promote the state as a tourism destination.
The travel fest, which began on Tuesday, will continue till October 15, with discussions on various tourism-related themes scheduled during the event, officials said. PTI CORR RG
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