UNWTO World Tourism Day 2022 was celebrated in Noklak on Monday with a programme at Tourist Resort Noklak.
Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has observed 27 September as World Tourism Day, as it was on that day in 1970 that the Statutes of UNWTO were adopted.
World Tourism Day is celebrated every year to bring awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its impact on social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.
This year, the theme for World Tourism Day is ‘Rethinking Tourism’.
Amidst the celebrations held worldwide, a state-level programme to observe this day was held in the frontier district of Nagaland, organised by the Department of Tourism with the Commissioner & Secretary of Tourism, I Kitto Zhimomi, IRS, as the special guest.
Keduosie-ü Metha, Director Tourism, speaking on World Tourism Day 2022 in Noklak.
Keduosie-ü Metha, director of Tourism, laid out the purpose of celebrating World Tourism Day and the history behind it. The UN General Assembly had decided to designate a host country for each year’s celebration, and India too played the host in 2019 with the theme Tourism and Jobs: a better future for all, Metha stated.
The tourism director further said one should plan a trip and use tourism as an opportunity to educate oneself on matters of economics and sustainability.
Wacy Kent, Under Secretary of Tourism, gave the keynote address where he emphasized that 2022 is the year to recognise, rethink and learn from the past. Every part of the tourism sector must lead forward and at the same time international organisations, the government and local authorities must support the sector through its transformation process, he said.
2022 is the year to recognise, rethink and learn from the past: Wacy Kent, Under Secretary of Tourism.
Speaking on the challenges of transforming the tourism sector, Kent said growth does not come at the expense of the people or planet. He further added that the potential of tourism is enormous and the responsibility shared to ensure it is fully realised. The UNWTO on World Tourism Day 2022 calls out to reflect and rethink what and how one should do, stated the under secretary of tourism.
Hiazu Meru, NCS, Deputy Commissioner Noklak, highlighted the potential of Noklak in the tourism sector, stating the district was making progress in many areas. He said the tourism department had established infrastructures and was now giving training on hospitality management and organising state level events in Noklak District while also promoting the potential of cave exploration in Noklak to turn the district into a tourist destination. He expressed his gratitude to the Department of Tourism for Celebrating World Tourism Day 2022 in Noklak.
Guest houses in the Tourist Resort in Noklak.
Dr Pritpal Kaur, IPS, SP Noklak, spoke on adopting awareness and safety measures in the tourism field and the potential of the district for tourism. She also assured full assistance from the police department for promoting tourism and creating awareness in Noklak.
The program was chaired by Veyiolo Doulo, Joint Director of Tourism in which a short speech was also given by M Thangou, president of the Khiamniungan Tribal Council.
Handloom and handicraft products sold during World Tourism Day 2022 in Noklak.
Various items from The Taste Of Noklak Society, Noklak Masterpiece and Herbal Products made in Nagaland, Noklak District were displayed and sold out during the occasion.
Earlier, an Inter-School Painting Competition under the theme ‘Eco-tourism’ was held at St Paul’s School Noklak on 21 September to mark the occasion of World Tourism Day.
The winners of the competition are:
High School
- First – Pungom M of GHS Noklak village
- Second – Shongmao of Christian High School Noklak
- Third – Supon A of GHSS Noklak
Secondary School
- First – Leeng P Should of GHSS Noklak
- Second – K Phunyang of GHSS Noklak
- Third – Thangio Thai of GHSS, Noklak
On 26 September, a one-day workshop on Hospitality Management was held at DC’s Conference Hall, Noklak with Food Entrepreneur Alemjungla Jamir and President NTA David A Solo as resource persons.
Director Tourism and DC Noklak Hiazu Meru jointly launched the Rural Tourism Competition website during the day.
Later, the team from the Department of Tourism and the Noklak District Tourism Association headed to Chiphur village under Noklak district for cave exploration.
