Imphal, December 04 2009: Manipur Tourism Festival would be renamed Sangai Festival and the same would be celebrated on fixed days, that is, from December 10 to 19 every year from next year.

The changed nomenclature will be officially announced by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi at the inaugural function of Manipur Tourism Festival on December 10 .

This was stated by Link Commissioner, Tourism Department KK Chhetry at a press meet at Hotel Imphal today.

As for the upcoming tourism festival this month, one cannot say whether people would find it impressive or not as the amount allocated for the festival in the State budget is quite little, Chhetry said.

Saying that efforts of only Tourism Department would not suffice to make the festival a success, the Link Commissioner stressed on the importance of cooperation and participation by all sections of the society to make the festival a grand success.

An added feature of this year's tourism festival would be presentation of BMX cycle show by participants from Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, China and Singapore.

An invitational national level competition on the same extreme sports event would also be organised as a part of the tourism festival, Chhetry said.

Extreme sports enthusiasts from Mumbai, Chandigarh, Pune etc would be competing in the event side by side with local performers.

The centre of the festival would be at Hapta Kangjeibung, Imphal East where around 300 stalls of handicraft, handloom and food items would be opened.

One stall offering Burmese food items would also be opened.

Though invitation has been sent to bring a Thai food stall, their participation could not be confirmed as of now, the Link Commissioner said.

The festival would also feature lively musical and cultural programmes of all ethnic groups of Manipur in the evening.

This is expected to be one of the main crowd-pullers considering the rich cultural heritage of each ethnic group of Manipur.

Demonstration matches of traditional sports like Sagol Kangjei, Arambai, Kang, Yubi Lakpi, Mukna Kangjei etc would be adding more zing and flavour to the festival.

Visitors would also have the opportunity to experience a new taste of adventure and eco-tourism for which the Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association has been making extra efforts.

Parasailing, trekking and cave expedition would be parts of the festive adventure.

Inflow of tourists in the last seven years
Year Domestic Foreign Total
2003-04 93,430 296 93,726
2004-05 97,054 248 97,302
2005-06 93,333 348 93,681
2006-07 1,20,472 263 1,20,735
2007-08 1,01,000 460 1,01,460
2008-09 1,15,300 271 1,15,571
2009-10 58,850 104 58,954
* 2009-10 April to Sept.

2009 only.

(Source Tourism Dept) .

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