Hornbill Festival 2019 poised to be biggest yet?

Youth Resources and Sports Department presented a traditional game called ‘Hekko’ demonstrated by the Changki village under Mokokchung district at the Naga Heritage village Kisama on December 7. (DIPR Photo)

Morung Express News
Kohima | December 7 

The seventh day of the 20th Hornbill Fesival saw the highest turn out yet with the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama registering a footfall of 53,311 on December 7.  

With this, the total number of visitors in the last seven days rose to 1, 63,256 persons, which include 2607 foreign and 27210 domestic tourists, and 133439 local visitors from Nagaland, according to statistics provided by the Tourism Department, Nagaland. 

The footfalls seem to have increased considerably on Saturday with two high profile visitors— Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports and Minority Affairs and Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER) and  MoS in Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Pension and Public Grievances, Atomic Energy & Space. 

In 2018 and 2019, the number of visitors till December 6 stood at 10,95,59 and 10,99,45, respectively. It is yet to be seen whether the momentum can be sustained in the remaining 3 days.  

However, with 2607 foreign tourists till December 7, the number is just 95 away from last year’s record total of 2702. The Tourism Department data did not provide whether the number include first-time or repeat visits. 

In 2018, the Hornbill Festival registered a total of 2,51,701 visitors, comprising of 2702 foreign  and 37, 397 domestic tourists. The count of local visitors stood at 2,11,602. A total of 2,43,214 visitors was registered in 2017.

With three days to go, it remains to be seen whether the 20th edition could surpass the record footfalls of 2,51,701 visitors registered in 2018.