MKG-TSG-Mon in center’s new tribal devp. circuit

Dimapur, November 30: Nagaland has another tourism and tribal infrastructure development circuit. This time it is the Mokokchung-Tuensang-Mon circuit. The development of the tribal circuit Peren-Kohima-Wokha was included in the 2015-2016 scheme of things. The Ministry of Tourism had launched a tourism scheme during 2014-2015, namely the Swadesh Darshan-Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits. In the first one, the government had sanctioned about 97 crore for the Nagaland component. For the second, the Mokokchung-Tuensang-Mon circuit, funds amounting to about Rs. 99 crore have been ‘sanctioned,’ the Rajya Sabha was told on November 30. Stated information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (independent charge) Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today.The Ministry of Tourism formulated the Swadesh Darshan for integrated development of tourist circuits around specific themes. The five circuits identified under this scheme are Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit and North-East Circuit. These circuits / destinations cover major and relevant tourist places and attractions and have a mix of culture, heritage, spiritualism, and Ecotourism to give a holistic perspective of the country. Tourism contributes foreign exchange in a big way to the exchequer of India and it contributes 6.8 percent of the GDP share in India. A Tourist Circuit is defined as a route on which at least three major tourist destinations are located such that none of these are in the same town, village or city. At the same time, it would be ensured that they are not separated by a long distance. It should have well defined entry and exit points. A tourist who enters should get motivated to visit all the places identified in the circuit. Theme based tourist circuit is a tourist circuit around specific themes, such as religion, culture, ethnicity, niche, etc. It can be confined to a state or could be a regional circuit covering more than a state / union territory.