Sudipta Dev – Mumbai
Greener Pastures is an eco-tourism company in the Northeast, which focuses on helping the region and its communities by promoting and implementing responsible tourism. One of the important segments for the Dibrugarh (Assam) headquartered organisation is tribal tours in the Northeast, in particular the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland. “These tours come a long way in making a positive impact on the tribes. The exposure of visitors to tribal villages encourage the tribes to preserve and respect their age old customs, thus negating the migration of their youths to urban areas and giving them a reason to stay in their rural areas and make a contribution. Then, the income generated from tourism goes a long way in maintaining the prosperity of the villages, encouraging the tribes to become small sustainable entrepreneurs by starting their own homestays or engaging themselves as guides or in commodifying their ethnic arts and crafts,” said Vaivhav Todi, director, Greener Pastures. He pointed out that it is important that tourism in tribal areas is strictly regulated for sustainability as most tribes live in environmentally rich and delicate areas, it should be ensured that tourism does not spoil the balance of these sanctuaries.
The company takes great pride in its authentic experiences that is offers to travellers. These range from staying at a tribal homestay, having ethnic meals to encouraging guests to teach in schools or volunteer if they are looking for a longer intimate experience. Tribal youths are also trained by the company to become tour guides. “Some of the cultural treks we offer in Arunachal Pradesh are unique. Since they cover remote areas which are not accessible by modern transport and can only be reached by trekking, they offer a unique glimpse of culture and lifestyle that exist in these faraway reaches of the Himalayas,” stated Todi, adding that, guests are usually left spellbound by the hospitality of the tribes, their simple lifestyles, dances and cloths, and sustainable approach to living.
Though primarily an inbound segment, Todi has witnessed an increasing interest from domestic travellers over the years. “There is a new generation of conscious and offbeat Indian travellers who are keen to explore their country and learn about the various cultures that make up the rich diversity of India and not just go for the normal sightseeing tour,” he mentioned. Acknowledging that there is yet a long way to go for awareness of tribal experiences in the domestic market, Todi added that Indians who visit other Asian and African countries for unique experiences need to be made aware of the rich ethnicity of their own country. “One does not need to visit as far as the Amazon to see the tribes when trekking in a rainforest such as Namdapha National Park can give them a similar experience. So far, South India has been a good market for us, especially Bengaluru,” he stated.