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It’s been a few years since the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region conceptualised Destination North East event with the objective to bring the rest of India closer to the eight states in the Northeast. With this goal in mind, it was organised at different places like New Delhi, Varanasi and Chandigarh in the past. The annual event, which used to showcase art, culture, cuisine, handicrafts, music, dance and attires from the region, is however held differently this year due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike in the past, this year’s event was inaugurated virtually by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on September 27 and will feature several cultural items, exhibition, etc. during the course of four days. Themed “Emerging Delightful Destinations”, this year’s event focuses on tapping tourism potential of the region as well as exploring business opportunities and inviting business people to invest. DoNER minister Dr. Jitendra Singh had said that the Northeast could become one of the favourite tourist and business destinations of India post Covid-19.
The region does have mesmerising serene landscapes with tropical rainforests covering the hills, home to diverse flora and fauna, and offers sights not even remotely similar to that you see in other Indian states. Besides beautiful nature, the region is a mini-India with rich cultural heritage and home to dozens of tribal communities whose cultures are still undiluted. There are many reasons for Indian leaders to believe that the region could become a tourist hotspot in the near future but it’s easier said than done. If the government of India is serious about making the Northeast a tourist destination and a business hub, it should focus on two key aspects – security and infrastructure. The region is known for insurgency movements and this is no doubt a blot on the development of tourism industry in this part of the country. It may have lots to offer, especially for nature lovers and adventurers from foreign countries as well as from other Indian states but there is a sense of insecurity in the minds of the people, though violence has reduced drastically over the years and the place is safe for tourists. So, the government of India should resolve these issues if it really wants tourism and business flourish in the region. Once security issue is addressed, tourists will naturally flow to the Northeast.
Another aspect that the Centre as well as the state governments can’t ignore while talking about tourism is infrastructure. People talk about the natural beauty of the region but many scenic locations and villages in the region still do not have motorable roads and travelling on even the existing ones is nothing short of a roller coaster ride. The talks of making the Northeast a tourist destination will be all hat and no cattle if the issues of security and lack of basic infrastructure are not addressed. Once these issues are solved, it will be a destination anywhere for both international and domestic tourists as almost all the locations and villages in the region have something unique to offer, be it nature or culture.