Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society Celebrates 25 Years, Calls for Revival and Authentic Growth

Mopungchuket, Nagaland – The Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society (MCTS) recently marked its 25th anniversary with a powerful workshop themed “Reflect, Reconnect, Reimagine,” held on July 4th at Longrangtenem Park. This significant event brought together 22 diverse community stakeholder groups to reignite their shared vision for sustainable tourism development in Mopungchuket village.

Limalenden Longkumer, Convener of MCTS, emphasized the workshop’s core objectives: to reflect on past achievements and challenges, reconnect stakeholders to a unified tourism vision, reimagine Mopungchuket’s future as a prime tourism destination, and ultimately draft a community-driven roadmap for the next decade of tourism development.

Amba Jamir, a renowned Policy and Development Strategist, served as the workshop’s key resource person. He underscored that the event was more than just a seminar; it was a “day of revival, reflection, and rallying.” Jamir stressed the vital importance of a shared vision not only for tourism but for the holistic development of the village, highlighting that a lack of common vision can hinder even the most dedicated efforts. He pointed out that the absence of a community-owned vision remains a persistent challenge across Naga society.

Jamir championed the core philosophy of Community-Based Tourism (CBT), defining it as a model where tourism is owned, managed, and shaped by the local community. He emphasized that CBT promotes cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and equitable distribution of benefits. In this model, tourists are seen as “guests,” and the community must lead the process to ensure collective benefit.

Challenging the common misconception that tourism success hinges on grand infrastructure, Jamir asserted, “Tourism will not come because of buildings. It will come because of who we are—our governance, our food, our way of life, our stories, and our ancient wisdom.” He passionately argued that authentic community tourism is sustained by the knowledge systems, cultural practices, and lived experiences of the local people, not by luxury resorts.

A key concern raised by Jamir was the gradual loss of indigenous food varieties due to declining farming practices. He urged the community to revive traditional agricultural practices as an integral part of the tourism ecosystem. He also highlighted the critical role of women in community development and tourism, recognizing that many essential tourism activities are traditionally undertaken by women and require robust support.

Jamir further reflected on the disappearing cultural knowledge, including lullabies, folk tales, and rituals. He called for renewed efforts in documentation, preservation, and intergenerational transmission of these intangible heritage elements to maintain Mopungchuket’s unique appeal.

Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society Celebrates 25 Years, Calls for Revival and Authentic Growth Despite challenges, Jamir acknowledged Mopungchuket’s unique tourism potential, citing its natural beauty, historical significance (like the legend of Jina and Etiben), rich Ao Naga heritage, and a welcoming environment. Existing infrastructure such as a rest house, scenic trails, and road access also contributes to its appeal.

However, he also identified pressing challenges, including the limited authority and resources of the existing Tourism Committee, a shortage of homestays, low tourism income, the disappearance of traditional crafts, weak youth engagement, and the lack of structured planning and marketing. A growing concern over the loss of cultural authenticity in the face of commercialization was also highlighted.

Jamir passionately reminded participants that tourism in Mopungchuket is more than just a developmental project; it is a movement for cultural survival, ecological stewardship, and intergenerational legacy.

The workshop included a participatory exercise where stakeholders collaborated to propose solutions for Systems and Management, Revenue Generation, and Addressing Authenticity and Migration. Amba Jamir also presented successful Community-Based Tourism (CBT) case studies from other regions, offering valuable insights.

The event concluded with a collective pledge from all 22 stakeholder groups, reaffirming their commitment to revitalizing tourism in Mopungchuket and emphasizing the urgency of their collaborative efforts. The workshop was made possible with the support of Er. R Lobosang Jamir, Additional Chief Engineer (Design & Regulation), Department of Power, Nagaland, Kohima.

The recent workshop marking the 25th anniversary of the Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society (MCTS) was far more than a commemorative event; it was a powerful call to action, deeply rooted in the community’s desire to “Reflect, Reconnect, Reimagine” its future. This gathering at Longrangtenem Park on July 4th brought together a diverse cross-section of Mopungchuket’s stakeholders, from village elders and church representatives to youth leaders, teachers, and cultural organizations. Their unified presence underscored a collective commitment to revitalizing the village as a vibrant and sustainable tourism destination.

Limalenden Longkumer, Convener of MCTS, aptly set the tone, emphasizing the need to learn from the past 25 years, to reignite a shared vision, and to meticulously draft a community-driven roadmap for the next decade. This forward-looking approach was echoed by Amba Jamir, the workshop’s resource person, who framed the event as a day of “revival, reflection, and rallying.” Jamir’s critical insight — that a lack of shared, community-owned vision can derail even the most diligent efforts — resonated deeply, addressing a challenge often observed across Naga society.

The core philosophy championed throughout the workshop was that of Community-Based Tourism (CBT). This model, where the local community owns, manages, and shapes the tourism experience, is seen as the bedrock for cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and equitable benefit distribution. Jamir’s powerful assertion that “Tourism will not come because of buildings. It will come because of who we are—our governance, our food, our way of life, our stories, and our ancient wisdom” serves as a guiding principle. It highlights that the true essence of Mopungchuket’s appeal lies not in grand infrastructure, but in the authentic knowledge systems, cultural practices, and lived experiences of its people. This means actively working to revive indigenous agricultural practices, recognizing and empowering the crucial role of women in community development and tourism, and making concerted efforts to document, preserve, and transmit invaluable intangible heritage like lullabies, folk tales, and rituals that are slowly fading.

While acknowledging Mopungchuket’s rich natural, historical, and cultural assets — from the legend of Jina and Etiben to its clean environment and existing infrastructure — the workshop also candidly addressed significant challenges. These include the limited resources of the current Tourism Committee, a shortage of homestays, low income, the disappearance of traditional crafts, and the urgent need for structured planning and marketing. The concern about the potential loss of cultural authenticity due to commercialization was particularly poignant.