Shantikam Hazarika <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I am sorry during the period the internet was down at our end, I seem to have missed some mails. This is mainly about Partha's mail and the latest on our tourism drive.The first requirement is to have co-ordination amonsgt those who are involved with tourism related activity. This is just not being done out here. No one knows what has happened to the NE Toursim development Council. If it is doing something, it is of its own. Lots of tourism related activities seem to be going on and no one knows who is doing what. For e.g. only through Shiela Bora's mail, we came to know that DONER organised a meet in Delhi about nature tourism in Assam. If Shiela Bora would not have given the details, we may not even have known that the workshop/ seminar ever took place.While we appreciate requests for the AIM to take lead, we find ourselves very inadequate in this regard. We fail to get response even for mundane matters, we hesitate to take lead where we may be questioned about our locus standii.Also, we have no wherewithal to make anything move in this regard.Just to bolster what i am saying: The MDP we organised for Toursim personnel at our institute from 14 to 17 June. The response was pathetic. We had two nominees each from Arunachal Government and Assam Government Toursim departmnents. In addition we had ONLY THREE nominees from the industry, of which one was from Dibrugarh and two from Guwahati, of which one was from a hotel. Hence there were total seven participants. I personally contacted some tourism operators but failed. The fee was Rs. 3000 per head. People apparently found the course fee very steep.The programme was reduced from 3 and half days to 3 days because on 14th, there was a chhakka bandh and due to lack of transporation, some people could not come from outside. On the last day, we extended it by half day.The concepts like eco-tourism require working out definute business models, covering both the forward and bakward lionkages. We are willing to work out the details, provided others are willing to collaborate. Is it being done? The extensive Incredible India campaign on promoting the NE, what has been the follow up we have no idea. I hope something has come out of the efforts, else it would be a pity.The thing is the peple who are engaged in tourism, like the tourism departments, the operators etc have to get together and make a concerted move. otherwise the standalone moves by individuals or isolated groups would not achieve the desired results. We wrote to the Governor about his initiatives on promoting tourism, but did not get any response from him.We propose to have another informal meeting as we had on 27th March. Let us see if something comes out of it.Shantikam HazarikaVan: Partha Gogoi [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]Onderwerp: Where the winds blow, children chatter and paint -- PLEASE READDear Shantikam-da/Pratul,Please see this article ( I am resending as you might have missed the emails because ofInternet breakdown).........would it not be a good idea to explore? Lets say, AIM takes a lead inthis effort, explores this potential eco-tourism spot with river dolphins which are rare, buildit up as a community development program, engage tourism professionals - at the same time,collaborate with the Center for North East Studies. The Ford Foundation has funded this exercise.AIM is already conducting the MDP on Tourism this coming week and has an existing course with astructure in place. I see a lot of "complementary strengths"!!!It can be the next level of work for our tourism efforts in FASS.NORTH by NORTH EASTWhere the winds blow, children chatter and paint
Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740
1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]
Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
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