Tourist arrivals in Manipur surged 14 per cent in last three years, making it a favoured destination for visitors.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said the general perception of the state is changing fast and 1, 66,032 domestic tourist arrivals were recorded last year, which was a 14% increase over 2016.
Singh said while speaking at the 8th International Tourism Mart in Imphal on Saturday evening.
The event was inaugurated in a glittering function in the presence of Union minister of state (independent charge) for tourism Prahlad Singh Patel.
The chief minister said during this period, foreign tourist arrivals saw a leap of 222% with nearly 10,000 foreign arrivals recorded last year.
Claiming that strikes and bandhs had reduced significantly by about 88% this year compared to 2016, he said insurgency-related fatalities had also reduced by 98% from 431 in 2017 to 9 this year.
With the changing scenario, he said, there is rapid growth in economic activities as well.
“Manipur’s business registration during 2015-19 is 12,438, which is 74% higher than all remaining North Eastern States combined together,” Singh added.
60% of this remarkable growth in Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises business took place in last two years, he said.
In his speech Union minister Patel urged people to extend support to the Government in breaking the wrong perception about Manipur and Northeast.
The Tourism Mart, which will continue till November 25, is organised by the Union ministry of tourism in association with an objective to highlight the tourism potential of the region.