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Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, Director IBSD launching the poster at Press Club of India in New Delhi at the Curtain Raiser for India International Cherry Blossom Festival 2018.[/caption]
Dimapur, Oct. 16 (EMN): Japanese culture and cuisine will be showcased in this year’s Indian International Cherry Blossom Festival to be held in Shillong from November 14 to 17th, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said.
Inviting tourists to the festival at a press conference here, the chief minister said that this was another way to deepen and strengthen the connections with the Japanese government.
Address to the media , Sangma said there will be an exposition of Japanese cultural events and cuisine at the India International Cherry Blossom Festival 2018 as the Embassy of Japan in India has come in as a strategic partner.
Director of Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo, in his welcome address mentioned that the Cherry Blossom Festival generates huge employment and revenues for various cities and countries as lakh of visitors from different parts of the world come to Japan, New Zealand and parts of Korea to witness the Cherry Blossom.
“In Washington DC alone, festival typically brings more than 1.5 million visitors and brings in $400 million in revenue every year.
He also mentioned that the India International Cherry Blossom Festival 2017, which was celebrated to mark the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for
Development attracted more than one lakh visitors and boosted the local economy by 300%” Sahoo said.
He also mentioned that the India International Cherry Blossom Festival 2017, which was held in Shillong to mark the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for
Development, attracted more than one lakh visitors and boosted the local economy by 300 per cent.
The India International Cherry Blossom Festival 2018 will celebrate the unique mass flowering of autumn Himalayan cherry blossoms with several cultural events in
Shillong, a statement issued by the organisers said. Visitors can enjoy fashion shows, rock concerts, a beauty pageant and even compete in an amateur golf tournament.
Alongside, there will also be stalls showcasing the region’s food, arts and crafts and several Japanese cultural events and a Japanese food pavilion in partnership with the Japanese Embassy in India.
