Exploring the Potential of Tourism for Tiwa Community Empowerment in Assam

Abstract

The Tiwa community, which is an indigenous tribe of Assam has its own cultural and historical association with the natural resources of the area. However, the community undergoes socio-economic constraints in terms of resources, capital, economic activities and facilities. Tourism is one of the best ways and a noble venture that the community can embark on through the preservation of cultural practices, income generating Activities and the development initiatives. This paper encompasses an analysis on how tourism can be used to empower the Tiwa people in Assam and the potential that can improve the social welfare of the people while preserving their cultural resource. The study also investigate the factors that could potentially suppress tourism development in areas inhabited by the Tiwa people; such as lack of infrastructure and governmental support as well as awareness of cultural heritage tourism. The study calls for community based sustainable tourism that embraces Tiwa culture, resources, and contemporary socio-economic realities for a sustainable gain.