Anini, in Dibang Valley district, has been awarded the Gold Award for the ‘Best Offbeat Mountain Destination’ by the Outlook Traveller Awards 2024, one of the most widely read travel magazines. With the Seven Lakes Trek as a major attraction, Dibang Valley has rapidly emerged as one of the top destinations for tourists, both from within the state and outside.
With tourism set to take off in the district, the pristine Dibang Valley may face pressure from an influx of tourists in the coming years. Therefore, it is necessary to learn from the experiences of Ziro, Tawang, and West Kameng, where trails of plastic waste have been left behind by visitors.
To ensure that Dibang Valley does not become a dumping ground for waste generated by tourists, the local communities will need to ensure that adequate waste management systems are in place. One of the measures could be banning all forms of plastic, including chip wrappers and plastic-bottled beverages.
Also, the communities must be the primary beneficiaries of the revenues generated from tourism. They should be supported in developing homestays and guesthouses. Therefore, the focus should be on skilling the local stakeholders.
If managed well, tourism can certainly help promote the local economy. The way forward is to ensure that it is both economically and environmentally sustainable.