TAWANG, 27 Sep: The tourism department and the district administration here celebrated the World Tourism Day at Kushangnang, the birthplace of Mayum Tsewang Lhamo, the mother of His Holiness the 6th Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Tsangyang Gyatso, on Tuesday.
The day was marked by traditional games and sports and cultural programmes, with the theme ‘Rethinking tourism’.
Speaking on the occasion, Tawang DC Kesang Ngurup Damo emphasised on promoting rural tourism, and asked the villagers to “preserve the rich tradition and culture and promote them to attract tourists to rural areas.”
“Compared to other places of Arunachal, our agriculture land is very limited; so, tourism is the only future scope. We need to keep our villages clean and promote homestays,” he said.
District Tourism Officer Tsering Deki, GPC Jamkhar Leki Phuntso, and Kyidphel EAC Tsering Choden also spoke.
In Shi-Yomi district, the tourism department celebrated the day in Dechengthang village in Mechukha.
Dechengthang was adopted as a ‘model tourism village’ in 2018.
The programme was attended by Mechukha BDO Norbu Tsering Naksang, GBs, panchayat members, members of SHGs, and others.
In Tirap HQ Khonsa, an awareness rally was organised to mark the day.
Deputy Commissioner Taro Mize flagged off the awareness rally, in the presence of ADC (i/c) Hakresha Kri, Borduria CO Lim Modi, DDSE Hortum Loyi, Lazu EAC (i/c) DK Thungdok, HoDs, teachers and students.
District Tourism Officer (i/c) Lim Modi informed that, “to create more public awareness about tourism, the district’s tourism department conducted essay writing, extempore speech and dance competitions among school students of the district.”
Earlier, resource person Khunwang Tangjang made a presentation on the tourism potential of Tirap district, and spoke about homestay management and hospitality.
A short documentary titled The Lost Art of Seasoning, based on an ancient salt-making expedition by the Noctes, was also screened.
The day was also celebrated in Kapang village in Lower Dibang Valley district, Pugging village in Upper Siang district, and in Longding. (With inputs from DIPROs)
