World Tourism Day observed in Manipur

MOIRANG KHUNOU — World Tourism Day 2026 was observed at Sangai Ethnic Park, about 50 km south of Imphal in Bishnupur district, on the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam and Tourism Minister Khuraijam Loken Singh attended the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Bhalla said the strength of Manipur’s tourism sector extends beyond its landscapes and monuments, and lies in its people, communities, distinctive way of life and traditions of welcoming guests.

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh said around 1.75 lakh tourists had visited Manipur before the 2023 crisis, but tourist inflow had declined drastically since then.

He contrasted this with Mizoram, where tourist arrivals have crossed eight lakh, and Sikkim, which receives more than 17 lakh tourists annually.

Khemchand attributed Sikkim’s higher tourist inflow to its stable law-and-order situation, stressing that tourists would not visit Manipur in the absence of peace.

He also said the government alone could not bring peace to the state, suggesting that collective efforts were needed to create a conducive environment for tourism.

In a post on X accompanying a video of the inaugural event, the Chief Minister said, “With digital technology and AI reshaping tourism, we can create new opportunities for our youth, artisans, farmers and local entrepreneurs.”

Tourism Minister Loken Singh and Thanga MLA T Robindro Singh also spoke at the event.

As part of the programme, Governor Bhalla officially launched the Manipur Tech Innovation Foundation Portal, while Chief Minister Khemchand relaunched the revamped Explore Manipur – Re-Imagining Tourism Portal.