Manipur tourist footfall falls sharply amid ethnic conflict, says CM Khemchand

Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Sunday said tourist footfall in the state has fallen sharply since the ethnic conflict began in 2023, affecting a sector that was expected to generate substantial revenue.

Speaking at a World Tourism Day programme in Bishnupur district, Singh said Manipur had recorded 1.75 lakh tourists in a year before the violence. He said the state now needs better tourism infrastructure and facilities to meet standards acceptable to foreign visitors.

The ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023 has claimed at least 306 lives, with 49 people still missing and thousands rendered homeless, officials had said.

"The number of tourists visiting neighbouring Mizoram has crossed 8 lakh a year, resulting in an increase in revenue, while the tourist inflow in Manipur has drastically decreased due to the crisis in the state," the chief minister said.

Singh also referred to Sikkim, saying tourist footfall in the peaceful and small state is more than 17 lakh a year, which he attributed to a "stable law and order situation". "The tourism sector, which is expected to generate substantial revenue for Manipur, has witnessed a decline due to the prevailing law and order situation," he said.

He added, "There is a need to improve the overall tourism infrastructure and facilities to a standard that would be acceptable to foreign tourists visiting Manipur." Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who also spoke at the programme, said the strength of Manipur's tourism went beyond its landscapes and lay in its people and communities.

"The real tourism lies in our distinctive way of life and separate tradition for welcoming guests," Bhalla said. He also said the state government is actively promoting homestays and helping local families convert their houses into tourist accommodation.

The programme highlighted the fall in tourist arrivals in Manipur since the 2023 conflict, the impact of the law and order situation on the sector, and the state government's focus on improving infrastructure and promoting homestays.