Kohima: The Kiphire district administration of Pungro sub-division organised “training cum orientation programme on eco-tourism and hospitality” at Pungro, wherein six viable villages namely Fakim, Thanamir, Salomi, Mimi, Moya and Khonjiri were selected for Ecotourism.
According to official sources on Saturday the training was organised in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Department of Rural Development, Kiphire on Wednesday, where the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Pungro Wenyei Konyak emphasized on the tourism potential that had largely remained untapped till now, thereby denying the locals of the economic benefit that comes along with it.
Extra Assistant Commissioner of Pungro, Chonpenthung Ezung spoke on the topic “concept of ecotourism & hospitality- tourist attraction and activities” and briefed on how each of the villages present were unique destinations for tourism.
He also highlighted on how showing a little hospitality to a visitor could amplify greatly in garnering more number of tourists to the area.
Ezung said the district administration Pungro in collaboration with Nagaland Association for Adventure Mountaineering and Education (NAAME) and Global Adventure Association (GAA) were actively promoting trekking of Mt. Saramati.The first batch of Mount Saramati climbers were flagged off from Pungro town on September 6.
The Pungro Ecotourism Tour Association President, Makezho explained the need to start low when it came to expectations and pricing, a much needed aspect to ensure a sustained growth of tourism.
Among the six villages for ecotourism Fakim, Thanamir, Salomi, Mimi, Moya and Khonjiri, the Fakim has the Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary, which houses some of the rare flora and fauna, as well as the scenic, spread over 642 Hector.
The village Thanamir is famous for producing the country-class apple, which as tastier as Kashmiri apples. (UNI)