Dambuk, Oct 5: A two-day intensive training programme on ‘Community Based Eco-Tourism & Homestay Hospitality’concluded today here with the main focus on integrating the local villages with the state sponsored annual ‘Dambuk Orange Festival’ which is scheduled in coming November-December.
Community Based Tourism leaders and stakeholders from both Lower Dibang Valley and Dibang Valley districts numbering 48  attended the training programme. The programme began with training of participants with exercises which helped them to think and work as one community with tourism being the main tool for sustainable local development. Their capacities in tourism, with background of deep rooted traditions, agriculture and wildlife were realized as the major strengths and way ahead. The participants decided to give their best for the month long “Orange Season” and begin the “Dambuk Orange Festival” from November 25, which will be continued till December 24 and keep the December 12-15 slot free for the regular festival.  The villagers, with the help of the acting DTO, Roing Anung Lego and prominent social worker of the area and active member with APTOA Neharika Sahgel Umbrey formed a “Lower Dibang Valley Himalayan Orange Tourism Committee”, where there will be representatives from most villages who will carry out the plan  for  festival activities on village-to-village basis. 
The participants then decided that a community based museum be set up at the heritage site which has been completely abandoned and currently in a very dilapidated condition by cleaning the site, donating items and initiating a plantation programme on October 12 next. Initially, they have decided to invite the APTOA members to adopt the month-long festival. Several activities like rafting, cycling, hiking, home stays, local cooking classes, handicraft and handloom training, learning of local traditions of architecture, agriculture and survival were also brought under the festival celebration agenda. 
Training was imparted on the basics of “Atithi Devo Bhava”, housekeeping, menu planning, table layout and hygiene.  It was decided that the number of homestays, local lodges, orange retreats and camping would be provided to the visitors during festival.  Certificates were awarded to all participants attending the programme, the first of its kind in Dambuk area. 

Meanwhile, the organizing team, being led by Assistant Director (HRD), Department of Tourism, GoAP, Bengia Manna Sonam, adviser to the Tourism Department and main trainer & motivator, Raj Basu, Training Coordinator Anung Lego, Supporting Local Tourism leader and active APTOA member, Neharika Sahgel Umbrey, TIO Itanagar Mamung Danyi and others met SP Sanjay Kr. Sain and updated him about the programme and future plans. SP agreed to provide full support and promised to be in person on the October 12 programme with his Tourist Police Team. Arunachal Tourism PR 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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