In the extreme corner of India lies a land of eight sister states, inhabited by Mongolian stock. The region linked to the mainland by a narrow strip of land is bounded by five countries in the east. It is popularly referred to as the 'paradise unexplored' because of its pristine beauty, remoteness and inaccessibility. The inaccessible region nevertheless has airways of national courier and private jets, railways and road linkages including waterways. The local cuisines, hospitality and the cleanliness set the region far apart from the rest of the country particularly in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
The village women possess good knowledge of 'food handling safety' to offer meals to the tourists in their homes. The experience of eating traditional meals in the homes of local residents is culturally enriching. The variety of good quality fruits and vegetable (including forest products) found outlets in the tourist market. The community based village tourism and community guesthouses are indigenous design and built with local materials. There is a vision plan for eco-sites in the Hills, Waterfalls, Caves, Hot springs and Biosphere Reserves. Local entrepreneurs in Assam have implemented tea tourism in the tea estates of the British colonial traditional bungalows. The distinct culture, abundant medicinal herbs and plants, the topography and village life are suitable for niche tourism and soft adventure sports like river rafting, gliding, trekking and golfing. Tree top houses in peaceful surroundings to watch rare species of birds and animals are special attractions for nature lovers.
The untouched hills of North East region has numerous tourist trails with guided walks through wildlife, caves and waterfalls. Northeast is a land of festivities, dances and colorful dresses; traditional lifestyles are unique and their tribal workmanship in carpentry, cane- bamboo works are exquisite. The experience will unwind travelers from the normal ways of doing things across the globe. The region is in the subtropical region of the Himalayan range in the east. The best season to visit the region is in autumn and spring and it is best to avoid the rains of the monsoon season
Ecotourism is nature-based tourism demanding limited infrastructure. An indigenous guesthouse at Mawlynnong, the cleanest village in Asia is an example where resource constraints are overcome. The group of villagers pool in materials to construct guest houses made of mud walls, thatched roofs, locally made cane and bamboo furniture, local wooden and earthen potteries, kerosene lamp (in places where electricity is not available) and clean water supply and sanitation provision. An indigenous design, built with local materials is a recent model in the region. The entrepreneurship involved local community rather than creating business for local elites that may in due course contribute to social conflict.
Ecotourism’s appeal as a conservation and development tool rests in its potential to provide local economic benefits while also maintaining ecological resource integrity through low impact, non-consumptive use of local resources. For all its good intent and purpose, Ecotourism has pitfalls, potentially can damage the resource base on which tourism thrives. It may not even benefit the local community through leakages and monopoly of the operation by outsiders. Small scale costs less but with lesser return. Ecotourism may not be the panacea but adjudging the potentials and favorable conditions of the landlocked and far-flung North East Region, what better sustainable alternative is available than ecotourism? The small scale involving limited tourist numbers, limited infrastructure and superstructure specifically for tourist use and reliance on as much as possible on facilities already available for local use is simply suitable for an undeveloped remote North east Region.
The village women possess good knowledge of 'food handling safety' to offer meals to the tourists in their homes. The experience of eating traditional meals in the homes of local residents is culturally enriching. The variety of good quality fruits and vegetable (including forest products) found outlets in the tourist market. The community based village tourism and community guesthouses are indigenous design and built with local materials. There is a vision plan for eco-sites in the Hills, Waterfalls, Caves, Hot springs and Biosphere Reserves. Local entrepreneurs in Assam have implemented tea tourism in the tea estates of the British colonial traditional bungalows. The distinct culture, abundant medicinal herbs and plants, the topography and village life are suitable for niche tourism and soft adventure sports like river rafting, gliding, trekking and golfing. Tree top houses in peaceful surroundings to watch rare species of birds and animals are special attractions for nature lovers.
The untouched hills of North East region has numerous tourist trails with guided walks through wildlife, caves and waterfalls. Northeast is a land of festivities, dances and colorful dresses; traditional lifestyles are unique and their tribal workmanship in carpentry, cane- bamboo works are exquisite. The experience will unwind travelers from the normal ways of doing things across the globe. The region is in the subtropical region of the Himalayan range in the east. The best season to visit the region is in autumn and spring and it is best to avoid the rains of the monsoon season
Ecotourism is nature-based tourism demanding limited infrastructure. An indigenous guesthouse at Mawlynnong, the cleanest village in Asia is an example where resource constraints are overcome. The group of villagers pool in materials to construct guest houses made of mud walls, thatched roofs, locally made cane and bamboo furniture, local wooden and earthen potteries, kerosene lamp (in places where electricity is not available) and clean water supply and sanitation provision. An indigenous design, built with local materials is a recent model in the region. The entrepreneurship involved local community rather than creating business for local elites that may in due course contribute to social conflict.
Ecotourism’s appeal as a conservation and development tool rests in its potential to provide local economic benefits while also maintaining ecological resource integrity through low impact, non-consumptive use of local resources. For all its good intent and purpose, Ecotourism has pitfalls, potentially can damage the resource base on which tourism thrives. It may not even benefit the local community through leakages and monopoly of the operation by outsiders. Small scale costs less but with lesser return. Ecotourism may not be the panacea but adjudging the potentials and favorable conditions of the landlocked and far-flung North East Region, what better sustainable alternative is available than ecotourism? The small scale involving limited tourist numbers, limited infrastructure and superstructure specifically for tourist use and reliance on as much as possible on facilities already available for local use is simply suitable for an undeveloped remote North east Region.
About the Author:
Ms Margaret Gangte is an author of Journal Articles and a writer on policy issues. Her recent publication titled ' Sustainable Community Development Alternative: Unlocking the Lock, (case study of northeast India is in the journal of Sustainable Development by Canada Center of Science. Her article ' Right Man for the Right Job: Motivate to Deliver, (case study on Indian Civil Service) is published by Indian Journal of Dynamic of Public Administration. Her article on ‘Why Africa Likes China? is a recent publication by Public Administration Times, USA. Her recent publication in the northeast region include ‘ Incentives for Northeast India: Does it Help, Guardian angels knocked down from heaven, Military Might in the New Age, Dilemma of Finding an Alternative. Many of her articles are widely published overseas and still several are under publication by journals in India and abroad. She traveled across northeast region including Sikkim in September, 2007 for her research dissertation titled ‘Ecotourism Development for North Eastern Region: Sustainable Alternative’ and had relished the memories of her visit to the states. A copy of her work was submitted to the Birmingham University, U.K, Department of Personnel, Government of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy, Mussoorie, India, the PM, Cabinet Minister, DoNER and the Chief Minister, Government of Sikkim through its Commissioner, Tourism.
