This year with the celebration of the 22nd edition Hornbill Festival 2021, the State Tourism Department endeavours to minimize tourism related losses, boost tourism service providers and the hospitality sector. (Morung File Photo)
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Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 26
Nagaland Tourism and Art & Culture Advisor, Khehovi Yepthomi today said that for the past 21 years, the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland has been brilliantly showcasing the cultural canvas of Nagaland.
Rightly dubbed as the ‘Festival of Festivals’, the Hornbill Festival has proved to be one of the rarest kinds in the world drawing the interest of visitors from all over the world, he said while making a statement at the 9th session of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) under Rule 136 on Hornbill Festival 2021.
This festival is not only just an annual cultural affair of mass get-togethers but a window to experience the unique identity and cultural legacy of our rich Naga traditions while also providing opportunities for the local economy to flourish, he said adding that over the years and despite the prevailing conditions, the festival has evolved and getting bigger by the year.
The ‘Land of festivals’
Nagaland is known as the ‘Land of festivals’ as each tribe have its own distinct customs and traditions, language and culture which translates into festivals celebrated individually throughout the year during different seasons of the agricultural calendar.
“It is the Hornbill Festival which brings all the tribes of the state on a united front and on a single platform with an intention to promote all the 17 indigenous tribes of Nagaland, their culture and products to the rest of the world. It is one of the largest indigenous festivals organized by the state Government whereby the uniqueness and diversity of our cultural identity is showcased here in all its grandeur,” Yepthomi said.
He added that the Hornbill Festival has not only placed Nagaland on the World tourism map but has also kept the Naga’s bonded to their culture legacy and heritage, fostered inter-tribal interaction and generated a growing interest about the diverse and vibrant cultures of North East India.
2, 82, 811 visitors in 2019
The Advisor recalled that that Hornbill Festival in 2019 registered 2, 82, 811 visitors.
As per the post event analysis, Hornbill Festival has promoted and created avenues for tourism trade and related business such as hospitality sector-hotels and restaurants where local youths are employed as managers, receptionists, house-keepers, chefs, cooks, support staff, tourist taxi drivers, tour operators and tour guides, photographers, videographers, creative artists, IT experts, entertainers, local craftsmen, weavers and caterers, Self Help Groups etc.
He informed said that the 21st edition of the Annual Hornbill Festival 2020 was celebrated completely in virtual mode only, a first of its kind for the state where a 30-minute telecast of the festival was broadcast globally on a virtual platform collaborating with TV channel NDTV, Doordarshan and Northeast Live for three (3) consecutive days to keep the festival spirit alive as well as on all social media platforms.
Economic impact of Hornbill Festival
The Advisor informed that during Hornbill Festival 2018-2019, a post-event analysis was carried out to study the Economic Impact Assessment & Analysis of Hornbill Festival.
After investing Rs 11,52,50,000 during Hornbill Festival in 2019, it generated Rs 100.75 crore revenue under different activities including visitors spending on transportation, food, accommodation, local products etc.
Expectation from Hornbill 2021
“This year with the celebration of the 22nd edition Hornbill Festival 2021, the State Tourism Department endeavours to minimize tourism related losses, boost tourism service providers and the hospitality sector while also maintaining Covid protocols and hopes to encourage tourist footfall to make up for the financial hit it took since the onset of the pandemic,” he informed.
Yepthomi said that the department is hopeful to reach out to the wider audience with new innovative ideas and also achieve the objective of celebrating Hornbill Festival to facilitate the local artisan’s /artists/ textile industry /agro and allied sectors and also to generate employment opportunities.
He said that invitations have been sent out and this year also, “we anticipate and look forward to visits from several honourable and dignified persons.”
Meanwhile, Yepthomi welcomed everyone to the 22nd edition Hornbill Festival 2021. “We have for you a treasure trove of surprises in store during this ten day cultural extravaganza,” he said.
