Tourism collaboration can open new window of opportunity: Sona
ITANAGAR, AUG 29:
The six-day Kiyak Laam Kraam: Our Journey – Tourism and Culture Experience Tour concluded here on Saturday with a valedictory ceremony at the State Banquet Hall, bringing together around 100 tourism stakeholders, tour operators and homestay owners from the eight northeastern states.
The participants from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura visited 11 destinations across Arunachal Pradesh during the tour.
The programme provided a platform for participants to share experiences and explore opportunities for greater collaboration in tourism, hospitality and cultural exchange across the Northeast.
Arunachal Pradesh Tourism and Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona, who was the chief guest, described the initiative as a unique collaboration between the university and tourism stakeholders that had opened a “new window of opportunity” for interaction and mutual understanding among the people of the Northeast.
Emphasising the importance of recognising shortcomings and working towards improvement, Sona said, “Your strength is identifying your weakness, and growing from.”
He expressed hope that such initiatives would help make the Northeast one of India’s leading tourist destinations. Stressing the need to preserve the region’s natural beauty, he called for sustainable and responsible tourism development as well as stronger collaboration among the northeastern states and tourism stakeholders to dispel misconceptions and showcase the region’s cultural heritage, natural beauty and tourism potential.
Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) Vice-Chancellor (in-charge) Jayadeba Sahoo, who chaired the programme, said tourism was not merely about travelling to destinations but also about experiencing and understanding different cultures. He called for collective efforts to strengthen tourism in the region and highlighted the spirit of “Atithi Devo Bhava”. He also underlined tourism’s impact on local communities and the need to remain open to both its opportunities and challenges.
In his opening remarks, RGU Registrar NT Rikam expressed hope that the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) initiative of the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), under which the programme was organised, would continue its engagement with the university and create greater opportunities for all stakeholders.
Rikam explained that Kiyak Laam Kraam, meaning “Our Journey” in Meyor, an endangered language of Arunachal Pradesh, reflected the spirit of the initiative. He stressed that tourism and hospitality were complementary and emphasised the importance of promoting greater tourism and cultural exchange among the northeastern states.
The genesis of “Our Journey” was explained by event director, cultural activist and RGU the Northeast is often viewed as a single region, interaction and awareness among its people remain limited.
“Just like there is a need for international and domestic tourists to visit our region, there is also a felt need for regional tourism where we visit each other and share experiences,” Riba said, describing the initiative as a step in that direction.
A key highlight of the programme was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Industries, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, and the North East India Tourism Confederation (NEITC). The agreement seeks to facilitate greater collaboration and synergised initiatives in tourism and related activities.
The programme also featured an interaction with delegates from the eight participating states. The session began with feedback from NEITC president Tsering Wange, followed by representatives from the participating states, who shared their experiences of travelling across Arunachal Pradesh and discussed its destinations, cultural heritage, hospitality, homestay practices and community-based tourism.
The discussions covered tourism infrastructure, homestay development, cultural tourism, connectivity and accessibility, tourist expectations, digital promotion, sustainable tourism, inter-state cooperation, capacity building and community participation.
A short film showcasing highlights of the tour was screened during the ceremony. The programme also featured The Arunachal Story, a fusion presentation of priestly chants, folk melodies and traditional dance forms, besides a performance by students of the Department of Fine Arts and Music, RGU, showcasing the state’s rich cultural traditions.
The programme concluded with closing remarks by Industries Joint Director and RAMP Nodal Officer Goli Angu, followed by a group photograph and high tea.
The initiative was curated by the Department of Mass Communication, RGU, and the Centre for Cultural Research and Documentation (CCRD), with support from the Department of Industries, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, under the RAMP initiative of the Ministry of MSME, Government of India. Tourism stakeholders, delegates, students and faculty members of the university and invited guests attended the programme.
