DIMAPUR: Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along, will be conferred the Global Blue Tourism Innovation Award during the first ever Blue Economy Summit 2026 scheduled to be held in New Delhi on June 5-6.
Announcing the award, Summit Co convener Dr. Roopam Bachhil said the honour was instituted by the Awards and Appreciation Committee chaired by Dr. Markandey Rai, former UN Senior Advisor at UN Habitat. She described the recognition as a significant moment for Nagaland and the Northeast, noting that while the Blue Economy is traditionally linked to maritime trade and ocean resources, inland waterways and riverine tourism are equally vital.
The Committee highlighted Temjen Imna Along’s initiatives under the Freshwater Shift, including eco friendly water sports, riverbank conservation tourism and community led angling conservation along Nagaland’s rivers—Doyang, Dhansiri and Dikhu. His emphasis on “High Value, Low Impact” Tourism Ecologies and rejection of over commercialization were also appreciated, as they empower local tribal communities to manage homestays, conservation reserves and fragile catchments.
The award, they noted, underscores that the Blue Economy is not exclusive to coastal states, but also encompasses landlocked regions with rich hydrospatial resources. Honouring Nagaland’s tourism leadership at a maritime summit structurally connects the Northeast to India’s broader maritime vision, aligning with the national “Act East” policy.
Dr. Rai observed that Temjen Imna Along’s model serves as a real world blueprint for balancing rural livelihood generation with biodiversity preservation, proving that conservation can be economically viable. The award also symbolizes unity, linking the cultural capital and ecological resources of the hill states to the national blue growth narrative.
