IT News (with input from UNI)
Imphal, June 26:
Manipur’s tourism industry has plunged to one of its lowest points, deeply impacted by successive setbacks beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic and worsened by the ongoing ethnic crisis that erupted on May 3, 2023. Tourist footfalls—both domestic and international—have seen a steep decline, as government-imposed travel regulations and safety concerns continue to deter potential visitors.
The state has always been under the ambit of the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, requiring foreign nationals to obtain a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to enter. While the restriction was temporarily relaxed, it was reinstated on December 19, 2024. Tour operators now say the system is marred by confusion and inconsistency.
H. Radhakrishna, managing partner of Seven Sisters Holidays, said that the regulatory framework is so unclear that even seasoned travel agencies struggle to keep up with frequent policy changes. “The process is so complex that it discourages tourists altogether. In some cases, even Indian citizens from Manipur who have married foreigners, or whose children are foreign nationals, face immense difficulties in bringing their families home,” he said.
The cancellation of major events such as the Sangai Festival and the Manipur International Polo Tournament over the past few years due to COVID and the ongoing unrest has further strained the sector. The Sangai Festival, once the state’s flagship tourism event, drew large crowds from across India and abroad before being halted.
A member of the All Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association (AMHRPA) highlighted the international appeal of the Manipur Polo International tournament. “Polo lovers from across the world aspire to visit Manipur, the birthplace of modern polo.
The cancellation of the tournament was a significant setback,” he said. Organizers are now preparing for the return of the event later this year, but say they have already begun the laborious process of securing permissions and clearances from various central government agencies.
At Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in eastern India, local tourism has also suffered. Mairenbam Tomcha, who runs a tourist site at the lake, said the fear among visitors escalated after a civilian was shot dead at the residence of former Chief Minister M. Koireng by suspected Kuki militants. “Earlier, hundreds would come to see the endangered Sangai deer living on floating phumdis, but now tourists avoid the area,” he said.
The Imphal Peace Memorial at Bishnupur, established by the Japanese government in honour of around 60,000 Japanese soldiers who died in Manipur during World War II, has also witnessed a sharp decline in visitors. “Previously, over 1.3 lakh people including family members of Japanese and Allied soldiers visited the memorial annually. Today, the number is nearly zero,” an official said.
Tour operators have expressed concern over the recent travel advisory issued by the United States urging its citizens to avoid visiting Manipur. The advisory, they fear, may prompt similar decisions by other countries, further harming the sector. So far, the Manipur government has not issued any formal response to the advisory.
With nearly all key tourist circuits dormant and confidence among international visitors dwindling, stakeholders believe that without urgent policy clarity, improved security, and robust promotion, reviving Manipur’s tourism industry will remain a distant goal.
