MMI observes foundation day; Youth Adventure and Water Sports Festival 2019 kick off at Lamdan
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 27 2019: With Manipur Mountaineering Institute (MMI) celebrating its 34th foundation day, a ten-day long Youth Adventure and Water Sports Festival 2019 kicked started at Lamdan today.

Speaking as the chief guest of the function, Manipur Tourism Corporation Limited Chairman Dr Sapam Ranjan stated that State's tourism will develop to a great extent if each of the people understand their responsibility as stakeholders and participate in promoting the value and beauty of the State.

Maintaining that tourism plays a crucial role in boosting the revenue of a place, the chairman continued that promoting and upholding tourism of the State is an important aspect for it to develop and prosper while lamenting that people promote less when it comes to tourism.

MMI observes foundation day; Youth Adventure and Water Sports Festival 2019 kick off at Lamdan

He appealed to all to make people, living outside the State, aware of the beauty, indigenous foods, culture, heritage and all the good things of Manipur.

Ranjan continued that Manipur is a ppotent spot/location for adventure tourism while adding that tourists vary from one to another.

Some prefer to dig deep, plan and research before visiting a place while others, often, choose adventure tourism, he said.

Meanwhile, many tourists have, nowadays, become vloggers and they tend to share their experiences about the place to the rest of the world.

Ranjan urged all to thoroughly observe and study the kind of tourists visiting the State, impact of their visit.

Conveying that the number of domestic tourists and international tourists visiting Manipur have increased 14 % and 222 % respectively, the Chairman expressed hope that the number of tourists will increase tenfold if all the historic and places with high-tourism potential are promoted across the globe.

Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA) president Bijoy Kakchingtabam spoke about the inception of MMI in Lamdan and the journey of the institute till present day.

After the laying of MMI foundation stone by Tenzing Norgay in 1985, volunteers of MMTA organised mass tree plantation drive at the open campus of the institute and the surrounding areas.

Recalling the trekking training rendered to ITBP personnel, who joined the Indo-China war, at MMI and all the adventure courses given to youth from time to time, Bijoy assured that MMI will extend necessary assistance to victims of natural calamities in the near future.

He sought the attention of the State Government to complete the construction of Tenzing Development park at the earliest.

Speaking as the guest of honour, Editors Guild Manipur president Khogendra Khomdram maintained that it would be effective and admirable to see the institute and its campus in Lamdan as an adventure tourist spot while urging the State Government to take necessary steps in transforming the site into one.

As adventurous activities and sports, during Sangai Festival, are carried out at the institute, he maintained that the location will attract the tourists apart from ensuring success of the events.

Another guest of honour of the function, Deputy Director of Tourism, Yumnam Suraj assured that the Tenzing park, which is under construction, can be completed this financial year.

The Youth Adventure and Water Sports Festival 2019 will continue till January 5 .