Governor notes economic potential of tourism sector
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 22 2022: Emphasising on the importance of tourism and its potential in enhancing the economy of a state or country, Governor La Ganesan has called for developing tourism sector in the state.

Speaking as chief guest at the cultural evening held at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Palace Compound, here on Tuesday evening, La Ganesan described as comforting to see that the tourism department is making honest efforts to woo tourists and make Manipur a popular tourist destination.

Tourism is one of the leading industries across the globe considering its potentials to boost economy of a country or region.

There is the need to develop tourism industry in the state to attract more tourists as it will improve the state's economy significantly.

In order to do so, there is also the need to maintain clean and hygienic environment, and show warm hospitality, he said.

The Governor said that Manipur Sangai Festival is definitely a step towards this objective by making it a calendar event in the state.

The festival is now recognized as a national event and has brought the cultural flavour of Manipur to the centre-stage.

It provides an opportunity to showcase various aspects of the traditions and culture, besides promoting the local handloom and handicraft products.

He further said that Manipur is undoubtedly a beautiful state with a huge potential for developing into a tourist destination.

It abounds in natural beauty with the valley and the hill districts offering unique tastes to satisfy every tourist's palate of nature.

La Ganesan continued that one bottleneck is obviously the law and order situation, which is generally dissuading the tourists from including the state in their itinerary.

Fortunately, the general law and order situation in the state has significantly improved in the last few years and the state remained quite peaceful.

With Act East Policy in place, the government is developing tourism infrastructure.

Road connectivity has also improved significantly and the initiatives of the government as well as the hospitality of the public have been successful in giving a warm feeling to visiting tourists in the past few years, he said.

"It is in our hands, the state government and the people of Manipur, to dispel this negative attribute.

We need to initiate a multimedia campaign focusing on the positive traits about the state.

Tourism has enabled countries without many natural resources to breathe life into their economy.

These countries have been able to harness tourism successfully and maintain a vibrant economy.

Attempt should be for a larger domestic as well as foreign participation of entrepreneurs and cultural troupes to add novelty and make the festival more attractive every year," the Governor maintained.

Participating in the cultural evening as president, chief minister N Biren said that Manipur Sangai Festival is being organised with an aim to showcase the oneness of different communities in the state.

The festival of oneness will definitely help enhance the attachment and emotional bonding among the different communities, he said, while highlighting the fact that the festival this year is being organised at 13 different locations across the state including hill districts.

The 35 ethnic huts representing different ethnic groups have been erected at Sangai Ethnic Park, Moirang Khunou in Bishnupur district.

Different programmes will be organised at Geljang and Behiang in Churachandpur, Makhel and Mao in Senapati districts as part of the festival.

Manipur is a land of festival and unlike in the past, people of the state are now able to participate in festivals without worrying for their security due to the efforts of his government to improve law and order situation of the state in the last five years.

Biren further informed that union minister of external affairs S Jaishankar, chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh will also attend the festival.

Union law minister Kiren Rijiju will attend the closing ceremony of the festival, he said and appealed to the people of the state to show decency and warm hospitality to people from different parts of the country and the world visiting the state to witness the festival.

Folk dances and songs of different tribal communities were performed as part of the cultural evening.

Manipur Tourism Corporation Limited chairman Karam Shyam, commerce and industries minister Nemcha Kipgen, health minister Dr S Ranjan and chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar were also present at the event.

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