NPP proposes Summer Festival to boost year-round tourism in Nagaland

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland unit of National People’s Party (NPP) has urged the state government to introduce a Summer Festival to complement the existing Hornbill Festival, aiming to promote tourism throughout the year.

In a statement on Monday, the party noted that while the December-held Hornbill Festival has established Nagaland as a cultural and tourist hub, tourism in the state remains largely seasonal.

This, they said, “not only limits economic opportunities to a short period in the year but also results in neglect of roads and infrastructure until the next tourist season.”

The NPP suggested that a Summer Festival could attract visitors during the off-season, boost the local economy, and create employment opportunities for youth across sectors such as handicrafts, transport, hospitality, and performance arts.

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The party also highlighted the potential for decentralised festival events in districts beyond Kohima to encourage inclusive development.

Proposed activities for the festival include eco-tourism initiatives such as trekking, bird-watching, and fishing; food and cuisine fairs; music concerts and talent shows; inter-tribal sports competitions; and faith-based programs including inter-church gospel events and spiritual workshops.

The party emphasised that the festival could also highlight monsoon-related agricultural and cultural practices while reaffirming the state’s Christian identity.