WORLD TOURISM DAY CELEBRATED AT POBITORA WITH GRAND CEREMONY; TOAA PLEDGES TO POSITION ASSAM ON GLOBAL MAP AND BOOST LOCAL ECONOMYMAYONG / POBITORA, ASSAM

Dalim Phukan
Hills Live News, Pobitora SEPT 27: In a concerted bid to propel Assam’s tourism sector onto the international stage and harness its rich natural heritage for community development, the Tour Operators Association of Assam (TOAA) observed World Tourism Day with a day-long, high-profile program at the Meadowlark Resort, located on the fringes of the world-famous Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

The official proceedings commenced early in the morning with the ceremonial hoisting of the organizational flag by TOAA dignitaries, marking the formal inauguration of the event. This was followed by a solemn lamp-lighting ceremony held in an auspicious ambience, symbolizing the collective pledge of stakeholders to illuminate Assam’s tourism potential through sustainable and ecological practices.

The convention gathered leading voices from hospitality, academia, grassroots administration, and media to discuss the strategic trajectory of regional tourism. Present on the occasion were TOAA President Mr. Mukul Medhi, Mayong Anchalik College Professor Dr. Utpal Nath, senior journalist Mr. Dalim Phukan, Mayong Anchalik Panchayat Member Mrs. Kabita Medhi, and Meadowlark Resort Managing Director Mr. Nirud Pandey, alongside senior office-bearers of TOAA, tourism trade operators, and local residents.

Deliberations at the session centered on a four-fold roadmap for the region. Speakers emphasized the urgent need to balance wildlife conservation—particularly safeguarding Pobitora’s dense population of the Great One-Horned Rhinoceros—with regulated eco-tourism activities.

The panel highlighted tourism as a critical economic engine capable of driving sustainable self-employment and infrastructure development across the Mayong and Pobitora belts. Discussions also focused on instituting eco-friendly protocols to preserve the fragile ecological balance, while initiating targeted global promotional campaigns to position Mayong’s unique heritage and Pobitora’s biodiversity as premier destinations for international travelers.

Instituted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 1980, World Tourism Day is celebrated globally every year on September 27 to highlight the socio-economic impact of tourism. Organizers noted that today’s event at Pobitora serves as a major milestone in unifying industry leaders and local communities to build a resilient, world-class tourism ecosystem in Assam.