Reinventing Tourism Post - COVID-19: Prospects in Northeast India. Part-1

Nomoskar! Welcome back to my 2nd blog. In my last blog, I shared a few comeback strategies post-COVID 19. One of the strategies for the revival of the tourism industry in India, as mentioned in my last blog was the promotion of Northeast India. One of the most important reasons, being the least affected region in the country by the pandemic. Northeast as a tourist destination has lots of prospects and can prove to be a pure goldmine. It can use its rich cultural heritage and the breath-taking natural beauty to its advantage. The lockdown period, with reduced carbon footprints and human interference, has added more to its virgin beauty.

It’s time we reinvent the tourism industry; the most organic way and yet to our benefits. So folks let us explore some concepts/ideas which can make Northeast a preferred tourist destination in the coming time.

1. Yoga and Wellness retreats: The world is in the process of healing right now. Post pandemic the only preference will be a healthy body and a sound mind. Yoga and meditation centres will be the call of the hour. Northeast is a perfect place for such a setup. A beautiful ashram amidst the greenery in the foothills of the Himalayas, or a gently flowing river. What more would you want? The medicinal herbs and the plants, which are a part of the rich biodiversity of the region, can be planted in and around the ashrams for the visitors to be able to use it. A healing retreat like this will always be a hit.

2. Farm to table and Live kitchen: The farm to table concept is gaining a lot of popularity these days. Nothing better than fresh and organic vegetables from the kitchen garden going straight into the kitchen and then to the plates of the visitors. Involving the visitors in the process of picking vegetables from the garden adds to a beautiful experience for them. Also, a live kitchen where they can see and involve themselves in the process of cooking adds an extra element. After all, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

3. Destination weddings: I am most excited about this. I can already picture a fairy-tale wedding straight out of a Vishal Punjabi (The wedding Filmer) film amid a tea garden with an old school building at the backdrop. Why Italy? Why goa or Udaipur? Why not Northeast? Northeast can be a beautiful choice for destination weddings. With proper branding, advertising and planning, Northeast can be a perfect romantic destination a couple can ever want. I have worked on an extensive business model on destination weddings in Northeast. I will be sharing it with you in one of the upcoming blogs.

4. Artisan alcoholic drinks: There are numerous tribes in Northeast. In most of the tribes', homemade alcoholic beverages are a part of their culture. Making it available for the tourists will be an added attraction. I had an awesome experience of the craft drinks in Bulgaria. Nasik is also a good example of wine tourism in India. Goa’s locally made Feni is very popular amongst the tourists. If similar models can be implemented in the Northeastern region, it can create wonders.

I will be sharing A few more ideas, in my next blog. Hope, you all had a good read. With a desire to put Northeast as the tourism capital of the country…

Lots of Love!

-Ambalika