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KOHIMA — With the Nagaland state’s annual Hornbill Festival just a little more than two months to go, the department of Tourism convened a consultative meeting with the line departments and agencies at Hotel Japfü in Kohima on Friday.
The Hornbill Festival is held from December 1 to the 10th every year, with an aim to revive and showcase the state’s rich cultural heritage to the outside world.
Addressing the gathering, minister of Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along, said that the meeting was held to curate all the departments and agencies to ensure that the festival is organised in a grand manner.
Reminding how the Hornbill Festival has become so popular over the years, he stressed the need to work together and showcase the state’s rich culture through active participation, in order to give the visitors an experience of a lifetime.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]The minister asserted that the Hornbill Festival is apolitical and everyone has to contribute towards its success without political intention and curate the festival.
He further pointed out the need for systematic planning of Mini-Hornbill Festival, prepare a calendar about all the state festivals and work with commitment to boost tourism in the state.
He also called for a collective effort towards promoting ‘clean tourism’ by keeping the state clean. Towards this, he suggested initiating ‘Clean Nagaland Drive’ while requesting various departments to initiate cleanliness drive twice in a year by collaborating with students and others.
Lamenting public apathy towards government property and sub-standard workmanship, he said such trend sets the idea of investment wrong.
Speaking to journalists later, the minister said the meeting was convened with the stakeholders, as has been in the past, to boost tourism as well as the state’s economy besides preserving the culture and tradition of the people, as envisioned by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio when the Hornbill Festival was started.
When asked if the ongoing crisis in the neighbouring state of Manipur could affect the inflow of tourists during the Hornbill Festival 2023, he said it may not as Nagaland is a different state.
While expressing apprehension that tourists might not be aware that Nagaland and Manipur are different states, he also said prospective visitors may eventually come to know.
Meanwhile, he expressed concerned over the ongoing ethnic clash, while hoping that peace will return to Manipur soon.
In regard to the Hornbill Festival 2023, the minister said the state is ready to cater to all kinds of tourists from across the world who wants to experience the rich culture of Nagaland people.
Meanwhile, Commissioner and Secretary of Tourism department, Kitto Zhimomi in his introductory remark, said the state’s premier festival is getting better every year. The programme will be released well ahead of the festival and also invite potential firms that may be interesting in advertising their products at the event, he added.
The department is trying to put Nagaland in the world tourism map by empanelling and enlisting the Hornbill Festival as a UNESCO world heritage festival, he said, adding that the state is also making effort to make Kohima a ‘Music city’ with the UNESCO.
Zhimomi reminded that Diezephe village was awarded the best rural village in India in 2023 while Khonoma is the only village in the country shortlisted by the UNWTO. He added that the State Institute of Hotel Management (SIHM), Nagaland, has been adjudged the best private-run SIHM in the country.
ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema, proposed setting up of a stall for exhibition of the state animal mithun as well as sale of its meat and other products; NSMDC expressed desire to showcase minerals of the state; while Nagaland Honey Bee Mission said it wanted to exhibit honey products during the festival.
Kropol Vitsu, Advisor of Prisons and Printing and Stationary; MLA Kevipodi Sophie; Nchumbemo Lotha, Secretary of Tourism department; and officials of various departments and agencies also spoke at the meeting.