State to organize Hornbill Festival 2021

October 2, 2021 29 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA, OCT 2 (NPN) : With the Covid-19 pandemic situation gradually improving, the State government is gearing up to organise the annual Hornbill Festival this year.

Announcing this during a coordination meeting with tribe hohos at directorate of tourism here on Friday, tourism and art & culture adviser H Khehovi Yeputhomi thanked the hohos for their participation that had helped in successful hosting of the festival so far.

He disclosed that Rs 75 crore was generated collectively by entrepreneurs and other participants during the Hornbill Festival in 2019, which he claimed helped boost the State’s economy.

The adviser informed the meeting that this year Nagaland would also be hosting International Tourism Mart (ITM) alongside the festival and, therefore, he stressed on the need to start making necessary preparations from now.

He said 500 guests, both foreigners and domestic delegates, were expected for ITM that would be held from November 28 to 30.

Referring to the dilapidated condition of 17 morungs at Heritage Village, he urged the respective hohos to make necessary arrangements to renovate the same at the earliest.

He called for completing all renovation works before November 15 so that other activities could be taken up subsequently.

Assuring to provide assistance for the renovation works, Khehovi urged the hoho leaders to approach their respective elected members to get involved in the work since the festival was a reflection of the State to the world.

He requested the hohos to maintain their respective morungs all year round, and not just during the festival season since visitors from around the world come to visit the State throughout the year.

The adviser also highlighted the importance of getting vaccinated, especially by those individuals who would be participating in the events for the safety and success of the festival.

Clarifying that vaccination had nothing to do with politics or religion, but was only for public safety, he warned that not getting vaccinated might become an obstacle for both participants and visitors, which could affect the successful hosting of the festival.

Besides being a time for celebration, Khehovi remarked that the festival should be used as a platform to foster unity among different tribes to help eradicate the “isms” prevalent in Naga society.

In a brief address, tourism joint secretary T.Y. Kikon emphasised on a sustainable tourism industry, which, he said could become a vital component of economy like many countries that survived solely on tourism did.

He also stressed on the people creating assets that could cater to the need of tourists like hotels and home stays.

Citing the shortage of lodges observed in the past, Yanpvuthung requested the hohos to earmark facilities that would help in accommodation.

Earlier, tourism joint director Veyielo Doulo, who chaired the meeting, informed the participants that Hornbill Festival in 2018 generated Rs 45 crore and created 500 jobs.

Likewise, he claimed that the festival in 2019, including the component held at Dimapur, generated Rs. 101 crore and created 800 jobs.

He further informed the meeting that ITM was specifically designed for the eight North Eastern States, including Sikkim. But while other States of the region had already hosted the event rotation-wise, Nagaland and Mizoram were yet to host one, he added.

Although Nagaland could not meet the standards to host the event in the previous year, Doulo said the State was selected this year.

During the meeting, tourism deputy director Sentimenla Aier invoked God’s blessings while additional director Keduosieu M Rio proposed the vote of thanks.

Representatives from 17 tribe hohos were present at the meeting, which also had an interactive session where the participants shared their opinions, grievances and suggestions for the festival.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/state-to-organize-hornbill-festival-2021/241464.html