The year 2016-17 has been quite a happening year for the state as well as for Manipur Tourism. Despite the unstable conditions that prevailed in the state throughout the year, Manipur witnessed continued visitor arrivals from across the country as well as from other countries. The domestic tourist inflow was 121,088 and the foreign tourist inflow was 2,444 between Apr. 2016-Jan. 2017 and we are expecting a marked increase in the arrival figures this year.
Manipur Tourism, of late, is focusing on marketing and promotion of tourism destinations. What is your promotional plan for 2017 and what will be the focus area?
We consider marketing and publicity as one of our primary mandates in our effort to develop and promote tourism in the state. Currently, we are concentrating on increasing the awareness levels of our tourist destinations through promotional campaigns targeted at specific markets. We will focus our promotional activities on advertisements, destination information dissemination, and participation at travel related events across India and public relations activities for this year.
Which are the destinations and circuits that you have identified to promote in 2017 aggressively?
Manipur offers everything from high bluish-green mountains offering trekking routes to mysterious caves and virgin forests. Keeping in mind these varied attractions; we are not focusing our efforts at a particular destination. Our promotional campaign will be spread across a number of tourist spots in the state in a way that will help advance the overall growth of tourism in the state. Indeed, the need of the hour is to increase the exposure of the state as a must visit destination to inbound travelers from other states through a number of events and coordinated marketing efforts.
Sangai Festival has already been quite popular and drawing a lot of domestic and foreign tourists. You are now launching the Shirui Festival. What are the main features of this festival? How is the preparation?
Ukhrul is a beautiful hill district and home to our endangered state flower ‘The Shirui Lily’. The Department recognizes the importance of Shirui Lily as the State Flower of Manipur and the event is a part of its efforts to develop and implement sustainable and responsible tourism in the state and save the endangered Shirui Lily. The festival will be a stage for the state to highlight its rich cultural heritage and diverse tourist attractions besides promoting state unity. It will have an array of displays and exciting performances starting from the live music, cultural shows, beauty pageants, exhibits, folk songs, traditional dances and indigenous games and sports to indigenous competitions like the Shirui Lily Grand Prix this year.
Unlike previous editions, this year’s Shirui Lily Festival is being organised at the state level under the sponsorship of the Manipur Tourism for the first time. We are currently finalising the preparations for the festival and we expect the festival to assume greater significance in the coming years by drawing participation of various Indian states, foreign traders and cultural troupes.
Which are your main source markets in India and abroad?
The eastern and southern part of India contributes the highest number of visitor arrivals to our state. However, we also draw a lot of visitors from other parts of India. Our annual calendar festivals like the Manipur Sangai Festival attract a lot of travelers from across the world. Apart from occasional visits from adventure lovers from across the world there are a number of visitors who come for knowledge tourism.
What initiatives are you taking to draw private investments to develop tourism related infrastructure?
We are looking at private sector from a long term perspective. We are taking up initiatives to involve them in creating the required facilities to support tourism activities in the state which includes accommodation, integrated tourist hubs, golf courses etc. We expect them to assume collective responsibility for the growth of tourism in the state.
