Imphal, September 27 2010: "World Tourism Day" which has been observed since the United Nations World Tourism Organization celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27, 1980, was also celebrated today in the state.

This year, the day is being celebrated across the globe under the theme "Tourism and Biodiversity" with China as host country for the main international event with the basic objective of providing a unique opportunity to raise public awareness of the importance of biodiversity to tourism and the role of sustainable tourism while conserving and preserving our fragile eco-system.

State Tourism Department celebrated the day with a function at Hotel Imphal with Prof N Mohendro as chief guest.

Tourism Commissioner, KK Chhetry presided over the function in which L Somorjit, lecturer of Manipur College, former AIR, Imphal, News Reader Thoudam Imomacha, Imphal Free Press Editor, Pradip Phanjoubam and RK Kishore attended as guests of honour.

Speaking as chief guest Prof Mohendro observed that tourism is world's largest industrial service sector.

There is the need for a thorough discussion on how to develop this sector in the state.

For a start the state must conduct a survey on how much income can be generated by tourism in the state.

Benefits to businessmen and traders, benefits to people in service in the tourism sector and the extent of influence to be given to culture will all have to be decided, the chief guest said.

He further observed that even though Manipur is in turmoil, the inflow of tourists is increasing every year.

Domestic tourists are arriving in the state at the rate of 90,000 per year.

So, there is the need for making a way to generate income from this tourist flow.

People need to treat the tourists well and to be polite to them.

The government should also make policy programmes to expose the state's available resources to the tourists, he added.

In his speech as president of the function, Commissioner, KK Chhetry said that tourism could be the biggest employment generating sector if developed well.

But work to create favourable conditions for tourists are yet to be initiated.

A concerted effort of the government and people is a must to develop tourism in the state, the commissioner observed.

Lecturer L Somorjit talked on the topic "Tourism and Biodiversity" which was the theme of this year's "World Tourism Day", Pradip Phanjoubam talked on "Photography and Tourism" in the function which was concluded with the distribution of prizes to position holders of an essay writing and photo competition held to celebrate the day.

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