Nagaland government will organize mini hornbill festival across the districts of the state to promote tourism, said Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday.
In this connection, Rio said, the state government will support the tribal hohos to celebrate the tribal festivals which will be known to others as Mini Hornbill Festival to attract tourists throughout the year. The festival will enable the tourists to see our rich culture and tradition and witness songs and dances, he said.
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He was addressing the 27th anniversary of Konyak Gazette Officers’ Union at the Council Hall, Mon town.
Highlighting the key focus areas of the new People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government, the CM said the government will focus on promotion of tourism which can add to the economy and create jobs for the people.
“My government has decided to promote the tourism sector. Hornbill Festival is world renowned and so we decided to have mini hornbill festivals across the districts,” he stated.
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Rio asked the tribal hohos to take ownership of the mini hornbill festival while the government will support them.
He further urged the tribal hohos to produce handloom and handicrafts and crops throughout the year so that they can exhibit their products and earn revenue during the festivals. He hoped the gazetted officers along with the departments concerned will guide them in this regard.
CM Rio also informed that the Hornbill Festival requires an investment of around Rs 4-5 crore but produces a turnover of approximately Rs 51 crores. He said the government will train tour operators, tourist guides and agents for which the gazetted officers should document the stories and legends of the tribe so that tourists will get a first hand narration of our great culture.
To this end, he said, the government has decided to build convention centre and tourist guest house in Mon town and many other areas in eastern Nagaland districts so that basic amenities can be available to the tourists.
The chief minister also laid emphasis on air connectivity within the State for which the plan had already been submitted during his earlier tenure as chief minister. He said Foothill Road (Express Road) to Mon without going through Assam as well as the railway line to Tizit are included in the connectivity projects. He urged the people to come forward to give land for such projects. “If you want development, you should cooperate with the government,” he stressed.
Rio said it is the combined endeavour of the government to serve the people and reiterated to bring change in the next five years be it in infrastructure, sports, tourism, agriculture and allied sectors.