Manipur has rich tourism potential. What is needed is exploring the means for tapping tourism potential. Every state is giving the thrust to development of tourism with a view to earn more revenue. What really have we done to attract tourists to our state? Have we ever attempted to understand the area where the focus should be made? What type of tourists do we want to come to Manipur? A two day seminar had been held, which will come out with a concrete answer to all these questions. A beginning has been made the path has been set. The journey however is long. It will be strenuous. But one cannot abandon mid way. Success comes to those, who work relentlessly. Cooperation of all is required to gain a place for Manipur in the tourism map of India. It is said since the lifting of restricted area permit, the flow of foreign tourists in the state had increased manifold. But the figure is dismal set against those visiting south. In the past a foreigner had to wait several months to enter Manipur and many returned frustrated without having a glimpse of Manipur. They desired to visit Manipur but the handicap was RAP, which stood as stumbling block. The frequently imposed bandh or general strike also discouraged tourists to visit the areas of their choice. Very recently a team from other parts of the country spent the entire tour programme confined on the balcony of a hotel as their visit coincided with the headless bandh, which was launched to protest against the molestation of film actors of Manipur by rebels of an underground organisation. Will the same tourists, who had experienced the bandh launched in a haphazard manner, think of visiting Manipur again? The answer is very simple. They will not plan to visit Manipur in the near future. Something is wrong somewhere. We try to interfere in whatever others are doing. Where lies the necessity for a students’ body to air its view in the appointment of Chief Secretary. Does a Chief Secretary lay down the policy of the Government? We must remember all the time ours is democracy, which must uphold sovereignty of the people. If we think a Chief Secretary can do anything we are degrading sovereignty of the people. Let the elected representatives feel what their role should be a in a democratic set up. Give the responsibility for doing for the betterment of the state to these elected representatives. By sidelining these classes of people we are diverting from the path set by ourselves. Let us ask them to do more work. They should have power to do something for the state. If they work surely a way will be found. It is time we study the factors that contribute to crippling the growth of all the development activities including tourism in the state. Tourism alone can shape the destiny of the state.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/the-fate-of-manipur/
