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The writer George Kangung Maram., is a Former
Director of Tourism for Govt. of Pondicherry.
Why tourism needs focus in Manipur?
Let us take a hard look at our natural resources. Manipur
is not endowed with natural resources like coal, iron, oil and
other minerals. The state suffers from acute power shortages.
Let alone dreaming for industrial power needs. It finds it difficult
to meet even bare domestic power needs of the populace.
Load shedding or black outs are the order of the day. Still worse,
the connectivity of the state in particular and the north eastern
states in general with the rest of the country can only be described
as pathetic. Even the skeletal connectivity, are subject to constant
disruptions by various elements. Against this backdrop, no private
entrepreneurs are motivated to invest despite tax holidays and
other incentives provided by the central government.
The peculiar topography of the region and its susceptibility to turbulence
deters infrastructure development. Added to this , the Government
of India apart from providing the budgetary needs, has not taken
interest to build infrastructures in these areas. With liberalization
and globalization, the chasm of disparities will only widen.
And the north eastern states will be left further behind. With
it the problem of unemployment will spiral leading to further
turmoil.
It can therefore be deduced from foregoing reasoning, that
heavy industries are not viable propositions. Examine other
options. Let us take a hard look at countries having similar
geographical endowments or limitations. It was none other than
Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru who described Manipur as the jewel
and the switzerland of India. You may say that it is an odious
comparison.
It indeed is, considering switzerlands progress
and affluence and Manipurs stark backwardness. But wait before
you scoff off this comparison. Certain striking similarities
emerge. Switzerland like Manipur is a land locked country without
natural resources but blessed with beauty and salubrious climate.
Those snowcapped mountains of the Alps have enticingly drawn
people form across the globe.
The people of Switzerland have
converted this natural beauty into a money spinning machine.
No wonder then why this "playground of Europe" should not be
bracketed as among the richest countries in the world in terms
of per capita income. It may be too simplistic and fallacious
to conclude that all earnings come from tourism industry. It
has alongside developed small scale industries like watch making
and precision machines which does not require heavy power investments.
Manipur can have small industries based on agriculture
and human resources based industries like information technologies,
which do not demand excessive power. However, I would like to
devote another article on that later. For now , the focus shall
be on tourism which in my view has vast scope in Manipur given
its natural beauty, salutary climate and multicultural society.
It is all the more imperative to promote tourism considering
limitations for development of heavy industries and necessity
to generate employment. And more significantly, for its potential
to generate income.
With as many as many as 689.8 million and more people crossing
international boundaries and a turnover of $475.8 billion tourism
is the leading industry, much larger than oil or arms industry.
And it is still growing fuelled by business travels, adventurism,
meetings and conventions and eco-tourism. Travels entails, development
of infrastructure like connectivity, hotels, travel operation
etc. All these generate employment and income . The moot point
is why is tourism not seen in its proper perspective? Why no
conscious effort is made to promote tourism and tap the income
accruing from it.?
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