Imphal, February 10: The Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA) has geared up to add a special zing to the Manipur Tourism Festival 2008 scheduled to be celebrated from March 12 to 16 at Mapal Kangjeibung, Imphal.

As a part of the Tourism Festival, the MMTA is organising several adventure sports and eco-tourism events.

Briefing media persons here today, MMTA secretary Dr L Surjit informed that a caving expedition to Tharon Cave, Tamenglong district will be flagged from Imphal on the opening day of the festival.

On the same day, a parasailing event will be organised at Mayang Langjing Tanning ground.

Highlighting other adventure events of the Festival, Dr Surjit said that this would be followed by a general obstacle adventure at the Adventure and Leadership Park, Lamdan, expeditions to Siroy hills and Kangkhui Cave (Ukhrul district), a one day eco-tourism and village tourism camp at Sadu Chiru, hiking and trekking expedition to various hills of Manipur, etc.

Another unique feature of the festival will be a rare Relic Hunt Ride on motorcycles from Mao to Moreh.

The will be flagged off on the penultimate day of the Manipur Tourism Festival, informed Dr Surjit.

Moreover, documentary films based on adventure sports and eco-tourism will also be screened at the main venue of the festival.

An exclusive stall exhibiting gear and equipment will be opened during the festival, conveyed the MMTA secretary.

Taking part in the press meet, MMTA vice-president Ch Doren stated that in the last edition of the Manipur Tourism Festival held in November 2006, several adventure sports and eco-tourism programmes were successfully organised under the initiative of the MMTA.

Saying that the adventure programmes will be better organised this time, Doren exuded confidence that the Manipur Tourism Festival this time will be able to draw the attention of both domestic and foreign tourists.

The MMTA has been looking for and listing sites with tourism potential in the far a flung and hill areas of the State since 1990 .

With a view that the Manipur Tourism Festival will never be complete nor achieve its objectives by concentrating all its events at Imphal, the MMTA is using all its resources to take the festival to other districts too, said Doren.

He further appealed to all organisations not to call bandh/general strike during the festival.

Observing that both foreign and domestic tourists will be reluctant to come to the State despite its great tourism potential because of the prevailing law and order condition, MMTA president N Ibungochoubi maintained that the State can grab the attention of tourists if more efforts are put in adventure sports.

Nevertheless, he confided that the Manipur Tourism Festival 2008 will certainly help the local people learn certain lessons on how to treat and behave with tourists.

The other events of the Festival will be organised by Nest Advertising while the Seven Sisters Travels will be responsible for transport and travels.

However, the State Government is yet take up any publicity campaign for the Festival.

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