Bali experience mooted for Manipur tourism
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 01 2014: A three-day long 6th International Tourism Congress organized jointly by Indian Tourism Congress (ITC) and Bali Institute of Tourism at Bali in Indonesia on the theme "Tourism for Community Development: Issues, Lessons and Ideas" from June 21 to 24 had shown the extent of the possibilities that Northeastern States including Manipur could do for development in tourism industry if the respective State Government has the political will to do so.

Among the 40 delegates from India who participated in the conference, eight were from the North East.

They are Prof N Lokendra Singh and Prof E Bijoykumar Singh from Manipur University, Dr RK Tamphasana Devi and Dr Th Umavati Devi of GP Women's College, Imphal; Dr M Binota Devi of Imphal College, who is also the president of North East chapter of ITC; Dr Lucy Jajo of DM College of Arts, Imphal; Dr Zimik of Pettigrew College, Ukhrul and Prof Rajendra Kshetri of Nagaland University.

Bali experience mooted for Manipur tourism

Dr Dew GN Byomantara, Director of Bali Institute of Tourism and Dr SP Bansal, Secretary of ITC inaugurated the conference with a gong.

In different technical sessions of the conference, five research papers from Manipur were presented.

'Pukeila: A Driving Force of Community Based Tourism Initiatives' by Dr Jajo and Dr Zimik ; 'Community based Eco-Village Tourism in Manipur Hills' by Dr Tamphasana, 'Conservation of Cultural Heritage in Promoting Tourism in Manipur' by Dr Umavati and 'Economics and Tourism' by Dr Binota drew the attention of the participating delegates to the tourism potential of Manipur.

Addressing a press conference in connection with the conference here today, Prof E Bijoykumar, Dean, School of Social Science, Manipur University said that the Bali experience shows how tourism can be a driving force behind economic growth in a region, and that the essence of Bali has remained intact belying the inevitability of adverse effects of tourism on "our culture.

In just about 50 years, Bali in Indonesia has emerged as the most beautiful island in the world and a major tourist destination receiving over 2 million visitors a year, the Professor pointed out.

"We can learn a lot from Bali's advanced tourism in order to promote Manipur's tourism.

A State like Manipur, which is financially backward, can be developed through its tourism sector in line with Bali by studying its tourism prospect," he suggested.

Prof Bijoykumar said Manipur Government should try to consider options on tourism by shifting its earlier view.

Prof N Lokendra, who was also present at the press meet, observed that many have been critically studying the possible harm on culture by heightened movement on tourism and suggested that more benefits could be availed if culture is demonstrated as a beautiful product in tourism.

Dr Binota stressed that promotion of tourism needs cultural heritage and Manipur is endowed with a rich cultural heritage.

Promoting mere scenic beauty of the State will not help much, so the State needs to clearly study the tourism in Bali which has attracted millions of tourists from across the globe, she said.