Manipur Sangai Festival, 2012 concludes
feature, State 03:48
Thousands of fervent visitors thronged the closing ceremony of the festival. The venue of the festival and its vicinities were packed with visitors. Large number of visitors could be seen forcing the main gate of the venue manned by hundreds of policemen. They even tried to enter inside the venue after breaking queues. However, the police managed to control the large crowd. The state Tourism Department allowed all the stalls to remain open till 9 pm. However, the police prevented further crowds from visiting it from around 8 pm.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Gurbachan Jagat said Manipur is known more for its law and order problem rather than its beauty and the tremendous human resources and added that it is a fact of life that negative reports travel much faster than positive attributes.
Due to these tourists generally do not like to take the risk of visiting Manipur, he asserted and suggested it is for the state Government and the people of Manipur to work towards dispelling this negative aura.
Tourism industry is the fastest growing sector and its economic multiplication factor is the highest, the Governor said adding many countries without much natural resources have harnessed tourism is the main component of their economy with great success.
“Marketing is the key and I feel that Manipur has faltered in this regard. A greater effort needs to be made to ensure that Manipur is on the tourism map. The issue of accommodation will automatically be addressed if there is a rise in tourists and for this investment will be forthcoming, he added.
“What a tourist needs is not a 5-star hotel but a basic clean, hygienic and affordable accommodation. The concerned agencies of the state Government should inspect the hotels and other places of stay regularly to ensure that they are maintained at a minimum standard of hygiene and cleanliness, he pointed out.
Paying guest system can also be introduced as Manipur now has many private buildings which easily meet the standard, he suggested while stating that for this, training of the owners of these buildings needs to be carried out and inspection also carried out regularly. “Further the civic authorities and the people should make Manipur a much cleaner state with clean roads etc.”
Chieg Minister Ibobi addressing the closing ceremony said the Government is seriously considering upgrading Hotel Imphal into a 5-star hotel. Yatir Niwas, tourist lodges, cafeterias, wayside amenities have been constructed by the state Government under Central financial assistance from the Government of India, he announced.
Integrated tourist destination schemes are being taken up at Imphal, Jiribam, Bishnupur, Ishingthingbi, Kongjom War Memorial and Sipuikon in Tipaimukh, the CM informed saying that tourist circuits are being developed touching all important locations from Imphal to Jessami, Imphal to Mao, Imphal to Moreh and Imphal to Churachandpur.
At present, Detailed Project Report for two mega projects that is, providing of infrastructure in and around Imphal city including Palace Compound, War Cemetry, Assembly, High Court and Ima Market and integrated mega tourist circuit at Khongjom, Kaina and Kheba Ching have been submitted to Ministry of Tourism, the CM further informed.
Besides Governor Gurbachan Jagat, Chief Minister O I bobi, the event was also attended by Agriculture minister, Md Abdul Nasir, Social Welfare minister, AK Mirabai, Parliamentary Secretary of Tourism, M Prithiviraj, MLA O Landhoni, Chief Secretary, DS Poonia, DGP Y Joykumar, Commissioner, Commerce Industries, O Nabakeshwor and other senior officials of the state Government.
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