ITM good opportunity for bonding: Bhatt

November 28, 2021 33 Views No Comment

9TH INTERNATIONAL TOURISM MART UNDERWAY IN KOHIMA

Correspondent KOHIMA, NOV 28 (NPN) : The 9th International Tourism Mart (ITM) 2021, got underway at Chief Minister’s banquet hall, here on Friday after state chief minister Neiphiu Rio, minister of state for tourism & defence Ajay Bhatt, and advisor for tourism H Khehovi Yeputhomi jointly inaugurated the event.

Addressing the gathering, Union minister of state of tourism and defence, Ajay Bhatt said that the Mart was a good opportunity for bonding of people from different parts of the country and learn each other’s culture and make friends. He underscored the importance of promoting historical sights which would attract both domestic and international tourists.

Bhatt also pointed out that tourism was a wonderful medium for exchange of culture and concluded by requesting more participation from the delegates in the Azadi Amrit Ka Mohatsav.

He also highlighted the visions and flagship programs initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to connect all the regions of the country. He said under Modi’s leadership, the country was gradually bonding in many ways and especially through tourism industry.

The MoS said the NE region was a hotspot for wildlife and border tourism many of which were yet to be explored. In his address, Neiphiu Rio, main guest for the inaugural, expressed happiness that the Mart has come all the way to Nagaland at Kohima.

Rio said the Mart is being held at a time when the world was reopening up after the disruption due to the global pandemic of which, the tourism sector suffered most.

He expressed the hope that the Mart would bring together business fraternity and entrepreneurs from all north eastern states to help boost tourism in Nagaland as well as the region.

The chief minister said he was hopeful that delegates present would also deliberate on exploring new ideas to harness the full potential of the region and unitedly give tourism industry the boost it needed.

On the occasion, Rio extended open invitation to all the guests to stay back even after the Mart and be part of the Hornbill Festival celebrations that will begin from December 1.

Union secretary tourism, Arvind Singh, who was also present, thanked the government of Nagaland under chief minister Neiphiu Rio for the whole hearted support towards hosting the event.

He expressed hope that the event would facilitate in a number of business exchanges in the entire chain of tourism industry. He said ITM was the biggest travel and tour networking event in the region.

Singh disclosed that the ministry of tourism hand in hand with the NE States had been organising the ITM to promote the tourism potentials of the entire region.

He highlighted the various events that were scheduled for the following days and wished the mart a grand success.

Guests from all the North Eastern States including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim including Minister to State tourism of Mizoram, Robert Romawia Royte and MLA and advisor for Tourism, government of Sikkim, Laisam Seema have arrived for the Mart which was been hosted by Nagaland for the first time.

At the inaugural, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between department of Tourism, government of Nagaland and Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) for the operations of SIHC at Dimapur.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also launched the Coffee Table Book on Nagaland.

An MoU was also signed between the Tourism department and Trade Promotion Council of India for to operate the State Institute of Hotel Management in Dimapur.

Welcome address was delivered by Advisor Khehovi while additional director general, ministry of Tourism, Rupinder Brar proposed the vote of thanks.

Earlier at a press conference, union secretary tourism, Arvind Singh informed that diplomats from five countries including: Ambassador of Vietnam, Pham Sanh Chau, High Commissioner of Brunei Alaihuddin Mohd Taha, Ambassador of Myanmar Moe Kyaw Aung, High Commissioner of MalaysiaHidayat-Bin-Abdul-Hamid and Deputy Chief of Mission for Thailand Thirapath Mongkolnavin were at Kohima to participate in the Mart.

He disclosed that the edition will put the spotlight on “Domestic Tourism” along with deliberations on the promotion of tourism in the NE in general.

He added that the Mart would also give a platform for promoting cultural ties, providing enhanced connectivity to the States of NE region with other parts of the country.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/itm-good-opportunity-for-bonding-bhatt/245478.html