EKHON
Ukhrul, 26 October 2025: In a quick chat with EKHON, Dr. Weyepe N Mekrishu, Conservationist and Asset Wezah, Secretary, Jessami Village Council expressed their excitement and gratitude over Jessami village’s double recognition for their efforts in sustainable tourism and cultural heritage preservation at the Northeast India Tourism Awards 2025 held in Guwahati, Assam.
Jessami Tourism and Wildlife Conservation Board was awarded with the ‘Best Sustainable Tourism Practice’, while Dr. Weyepe N Mekrishu was nominated as the top 5 in the category of ‘Best Cultural Heritage Conservation Effort’ award for his pioneering role.
Jessami, a village 116 kilometers from Ukhrul town, has emerged as a thriving eco-tourism destination, driven by community efforts and a strategic roadmap led by Dr. Weyepe N. Mekrishu, a local visionary. His initiatives have transformed Jessami into a model for sustainable tourism, showcasing the village’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.
As a strong advocate for sustainable tourism, Dr. Mekrisuh emphasized the significance of this acknowledgment, highlighting the community’s dedication to protecting their natural and cultural resources. While Asset Wezah shared key factors for the success of conservation initiative in Jessami. He also stressed on how tourism in a novel concept for the village and how it came to being in the extreme border village.
The village’s conservation efforts, started by Dr. Weyepe N Mekrisuh’s vision, have not only protected the endangered Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant but also helped a thriving tourism industry. By diversifying into eco-tourism, wildlife tourism, cultural tourism, and battlefield tourism, Jessami has created a unique blend of conservation and tourism.
- Jenny Thingshung
