Imphal, April 13 : The Manipur Tourism Festival 2008-09 was opened this evening at BT Park, south extension with the avowed aim of projecting and showcasing Manipur and to promote it as a favourite tourist destinations.
The festival also has the moto of seeking to create communal harmony and feeling of oneness amongst the people of the state.
The additional chief secretary in charge of tourism, DS Poonia who was chief guest maintained said Manipur is a little Shangrila “a bejewelled land’.
This little corner on earth is a veritable paradise where mother nature has been extra generous in delivering her bounty.
He even said, it should be be one of the seven wonders of the world.
He said its easter gateway Moreh being the transit of foreign trade, will emerge as a very important business sector for South East Asia.
Upgradation and development of road is vital he said. The state government is also working hard to lift up the protection area permit (PAP) and develop the tourist sector in the state, Poonia said.
He said the state government will give extra effort to upgrade transits sector in the state and with the coming of railway will also increase connectivity with other parts of countries.
B.B. Sharma, the director of Tourism who presided over the function also noted that Loktak is the largest fresh water lake in the North East region a veritable miniature inland area. Some of the people of Manipur need to protect the lake. We should know that it is the property of every people living in the state perhaps its protection and keep it alive is duty of every people. Only state government concern will not be able to protect Loktak Lake.
Manipur is a lucky state as the state is comprise with mix communities and we should be proud of its rich heritage culture. So, people should guide the tourists very well and need to show our rich hospitality.
AK Choudhury, the Major General of IGAR South said that the festival will bring change in tourism sector and if the state maintain to develop the tourism sector it will help in the economic development in state.
The present Manipur Tourism Festival is one of the series of Tourism Festivals which is sponsored by the Tourism Department, Government of Manipur. The previous Tourism festival were successful and well received by various people of Manipur as well as tourist who had come to see the festivals.
The festivals presented the different faces of Manipur in terms of its Art & Culture, Indigenous sports, Eco & Adventure Tourism Avenues which are the thrust areas of Manipur for development into a favourite tourist destination.
The Manipur Tourism Festival 2009 will be larger in scope with more tourism related activities and publicity. This year there are stalls from a few foreign countries and some other states. Furthermore cultural programmes are also arranged from outside Manipur as well from foreign country.
The festival will last till 21st of April from 6 am to 5 pm.
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