Potential and Forms of Sustainable Village Tourism in Mizoram, Northeast India

Abstract

This paper examines the potential and forms of sustainable village tourism in Mizoram, Northeast India. This study was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data was gathered from the primary and secondary sources. Tourism survey report of India 2018 for Mizoram was used to collect data on tourists’ inflow, purpose and duration of stay and level of accommodation from 2016 to 2018. A case study of village Sialsuk was conducted through household level survey using purposive random sampling method. The author surveyed 240 households (48%) of the village. The major questions were asked of on the main options of livelihoods and carrying capacity of village tourism. The result shows that Mizoram has the tremendous potential, as it has the number of villages, which has feasible climate, spectacular landscape, wilderness and abundance local food products and beverages. These abundance bases support for the sustainable village tourism. Meanwhile, tourists’ inflow is less in Mizoram. Further, accommodation, transportation and institutional facilities are insufficient. There are number of drivers, affecting development of village tourism in Mizoram and among them, the inner line permit and remoteness/inaccessibility of the villages are the main drivers. It is suggested that the inner line permit system should be abolished. Roads should be constructed, publicity of the tourists’ destination should be ensured and the tourism department should be strengthened so that the village tourism in Mizoram can be developed