Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: Nagaland Minister for Tourism and Higher Education Temjen Imna Along will receive the Global Blue Tourism Innovation Award this June. The honor will be presented at the first Blue Economy Summit held in New Delhi on June 5 and 6.
Dr. Roopam Bachhil, co-convener of the summit, announced the award on behalf of a committee chaired by Dr. Markandey Rai, a former senior advisor at UN Habitat. The recognition highlights how inland regions can contribute to the global blue economy through riverine tourism and the protection of waterways.
The committee selected Along for his Fresh Water Shift initiatives, which promote eco-friendly water sports and community-led conservation along the Doyang, Dhansiri, and Dikhu rivers. His approach prioritizes low-impact tourism that empowers local tribal communities to manage their own conservation reserves and homestays instead of pursuing mass commercialization.
By honoring Nagaland’s leadership, the summit aims to bridge the gap between landlocked hill states and India’s national maritime vision. Dr. Rai noted that Along’s model proves conservation and rural economic growth can work in tandem. The award serves as a blueprint for other regions to integrate their hydrospatial resources into the broader national growth narrative.
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