To commemorate 25 years since its founding in 2001, the Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society (MCTS) held a one-day workshop on July 4 in Longrangtenem Park in Mopungchuket village with the theme “Reflect, Reconnect, Reimagine.” The village council, church bodies, women and youth leaders, teachers, students, self-help groups, and cultural organizations were among the 22 stakeholder groups that attended the event. Limalenden Longkumer, the MCTS convener, stated in his opening remarks that the workshop’s objectives were to assess the successes and difficulties of the previous 25 years and to create a new road map for the growth of community-driven tourism.
Policy and development strategist and resource person Amba Jamir called the occasion a day of introspection and rejuvenation. He emphasized how crucial it is to have a common goal for the overall development of Mopungchuket. He emphasized the fundamentals of community-based tourism (CBT), which promotes sustainability, cultural preservation, and equitable benefits for all by having the local community run and own the industry. Amba emphasized the importance of preserving cultural knowledge, promoting women’s responsibilities, and reviving traditional farming methods.
He also highlighted issues like a lack of funding, a drop in youth involvement, a dearth of homestays, and a loss of authenticity. Participants in the workshop were split up into groups and asked to provide solutions in areas such as management, generating income, and maintaining cultural identity. All participants pledged to work toward rebuilding Mopungchuket’s tourism industry as the event came to a close. Er. R. Lobosang Jamir, Additional Chief Engineer, Department of Power, provided support for the session.
