However Afghanistan, China and Pakistan citizens need to get an approval from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) before entering the state while Myanmar citizens can not cross more than 16 kilometers from the Indo-Myanmar border without the approval of the Ministry.

A Japanese journalist who recently visited the Second World War battle field in Manipur to explore the history of Japanese soldiers in a brief interaction with this reporter during his stay at Imphal said that he might be the first Japanese journalist to visit the Red hill in Manipur.

 

Manipur Tourism team awarded The Manipur Tourism Commissioner KK Chhetri led six member state tourism team has been awarded two prestigious tourism awards including an international award during the first week of September 2011. The team was awarded the ‘Post that build the best business best in 2011’ by Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2011 in New Delhi on September 9th after getting the prestigious ‘Most Promising New Destination Award’ at the concluding day of the three day 91st Travel and Tourism Fair at Nehru centre, Mumbai on September 4th. During the course of the Travel Mart, team Manipur portrayed the potential of what Manipur Tourism has to offer. Primary thrust was emphasized on Health Tourism, Tour Packages, Adventure Tourism, Hospitality and Culture Exhibit. “Sincerity, dedication, friendliness, hospitality, excellent electronic communication and   team spirit were already inculcated by the people of Manipur to this Team. That is why, we got this award,” Manipur Moutaineering and Trekking Association’s President Dr L Surjit said. Other members of the team were tourist officer L Ibochoubi, Manager-Business Development of Shija Hospitals Santosh Shekhar,a member of Team Manipur,Managing Director HRK Sharma of Seven Sisters Holidays and Manager of The Classic Hotel Paonam Sommykanta.

Red hill locally known as Maibam Lokpa Ching is a hillock about 17 kilometers south of Manipur’s capital Imphal on Tiddim Road. This is where a fierce battle took place between the Allied Forces and the Japanese Forces in World War II. Many Japanese visited the place after their war veterans constructed a monument at the foot of this hill and it was significantly named the ‘India Peace Memorial’. The Japanese journalist was able to visit the border state after the relaxation of the PAP in the border state. According to state tourism records, around 47,667 domestic and 412 foreign tourists have visited the state till April this year after the centre relaxed PAP for a year from the 1st of January this year.

Surrounded by hills with an oval shaped valley at the centre, rich in art and tradition and surcharged with nature’s pristine glory, Manipur, nestled deep within a lush green corner of North East India is also gearing up to attract tourists in the forthcoming ten-day Manipur Sangai Festival from November 21st to 30th.

Manipur’s Sangai Festival - a state level festival - is a fixed annual calendar event held from November 21st to 30th every year. Although many editions of the festival have been celebrated over the past years, the tourism festival was renamed as the Manipur Sangai Festival since the 2010 edition. This has been done to showcase the uniqueness of the shy and gentle Brow-Antlered deer popularly known as Sangai deer which is found only in Manipur at Keibul Lamjao National Park, Loktak Lake and to further promote Manipur as a world class tourism destination.

Besides rich culture and mystical dances of Manipur performed at a fully air conditioned cultural auditorium and an indigenous fashion show, rock show, traditional musical nights at the Bheigachandra Open Air Theatre, the festival will also showcase folk dances like Khamba Thoibi, Pung Cholom, Maibi Jagoi, Nupa Pala and numerous enchanting tribal dances like the Thadou dance, Kabui dance and Thangkhul dance etc besides other cultural groups from other North East states. “We are also expecting the participation of cultural troops from Thailand and Maynamar,” says State Tourism Commissioner KK Chhetri, during the launching of the premier website of the festival on the 23rd of September at Imphal.

The recently opened 3 star hotel ‘The Classic Hotel’ has recorded 612 foreign tourists from January to April 27th this year. “After the PAP had been lifted from the state on the 1st of January 2011, visits of foreign tourists has increased as per the guest records of our hotel,” Sommykanta Paonam, Sales & Marketing Manager of the hotel said. “PAP should be lifted permanently to increase the inflow of foreign tourist in the state and also visas should also be provided on arrival to attract more tourists.” Representatives of both the government and private run hotels also shared a similar sentiment in this regard. Besides the state run Hotel Imphal at North AOC, around 50 private hotels provide food and lodging facilities to the visiting tourists in Manipur, as per the official records.

“We want to encourage more eco-tourism packages in the state as of now,” the Tourism Commissioner added. It is also learnt that steps are on to urge the centre to completely relax the PAP requirement for foreigners entering Manipur. “We’re discussing something in this regard,” the Commissioner said. “I’ve appraised the matter to the concerned State Minister as well.” However, there is no clear indication either from the State or the Centre over the complete removal or imposition of PAP in the border state.

Sobhapati Samom