IIM Shillong organises symposium on community-based tourism in northeast India

NEW DELHI: APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong, is organising a two-day symposium on community-based tourism in northeast India.

The symposium was inaugurated by Nagaland minister of tourism TemjenImna Along. IIM Shillong director DP Goyal in his inaugural address said that government agencies and all tourism stakeholders should work in convergence.

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The inaugural session was followed by three technical sessions on themes CBT tourism in NER, the role of government in developing tourism ecosystems, and idea exchanges, and best practices. The second day of the symposium will have sessions on exploring business opportunities, developing CBT models, and dialogue on community concerns and participation. Paul Lyngdoh, tourism minister of Meghalaya will address the valedictory session, the institute said.

DP Goyal said: “For a seamless tourist experience, the pain points should be removed and suitable strategies should be developed for promoting destinations in northeast India. IIM Shillong being an institution of national importance should have the responsibility of contributing to the region.”

The institute recently launched a community immersion programme where each student is required to visit and stay in rural areas. Tourism is an integral part of communities and IIM Shillong students can contribute a lot in this field, DP Goyal said.

TemjenImna Along highlighted the importance of experiential tourism at the community level. “Things have changed drastically in the last 10 years, and with time, better connectivity across the northeastern states has changed the tourism scenario,” he said.

Along also mentioned that most of the destinations in the region are yet to be explored. “In order to experience seamless tourism, linkages should be made and multi-ethnic culture should be promoted,” he said.