TURA: A two day workshop on photography, eco-tourism and communication skills development was held at SMELC Building, Dakopgre, Tura on November 3-4, initiated by the District Administration West Garo Hills and Basin Development Unit, Tura.
The workshop was organised under the aegis of state flagship programme Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion Programme. Rohi Suri, Consultant to MBDA and acclaimed youth motivator and photographer from New Delhi was the resource expert for the workshop.
Speaking to the audience, he shared that Garo Hills has immense potential to become one the best tourist destinations in the state. He said that Garo Hills need to create better tourist circuits and engagement of tourist guides in the value chain of tourism sector is a crucial factor. He also emphasized that the need for better and available transport system to promote tourism in the region should be well aligned. Suri opined that more youth group especially the unemployed youth can take greater advantage through involvement in this sector and become the messengers of happiness and change agents.
The above initiative undertaken by Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, is an effort with a holistic approach of creating more opportunities for the budding entrepreneurs in the sector of their interest and likings with a special focus on photography, eco-tourism and communication skills development.
On the second day, Suri, had focussed discussion with the personnel from the Tourism Department and professionals dealing in tourism industry and photography. He envisaged that apart from promotion of generic tourism, the region should focus and promote anthropology tourism, health tourism and architec-tural tourism as the broader part of the tourism industry.
He also opined that more home-stays and infrastructure should be promoted which can cater to the growing demand of tourists in the region.