IMPHAL, April 19 � Manipur�s only airport Tulihal will become an international airport in July this year, according to Principal Secretary O Nabakishore of Commerce and Industries department. Private airlines Spice Jet is likely to make the first flight, he added.
Nabakishore was speaking on tourism potential of Manipur during a seminar on �Strategy for Tourism development and capacity building in Manipur� here on Friday.
He informed the Ministry of Civil Aviation has also communicated to the Customs and Immigration officials to prepare for the upgradation of Tulihal airport (Imphal) into an international airport in July this year. Presently more than a dozen flights land in Manipur�s lone airport daily.
�The Central authority has decided to provide visa on arrival in Moreh to Myanmarese citizens who want to visit the State for healthcare facilities besides assuring to upgrade the Myanmar roads (Kalewa to Monwa sector) within the shortest possible time to facilitate trade through land route with China and Thailand�, he added. �Such initiatives on connectivity would certainly help in improving the tourism industry in the region�, he also informed.
Giving a presentation on health tourism at the seminar, Managing Director of Shija Hospitals Dr Kh Palin said around 50 Myanmarese citizens visit the hospital for treatment every month besides others from the neighbouring States.
Tourism experts from Goa, Sikkim, Nagaland, Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management and Indian Association of Tour Operators also shared their ideas and opinions on the first day of the seminar.
Earlier, Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh formally inaugurated the seminar. Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Affairs and Sports and Tourism Moirangthem Prithviraj Singh, Chief Secretary DS Poonia and Dr Th Dhabali, President of Manipur Tourism Forum attended the session. Dr Dhabali said that the number of foreign tourists visiting the State has grown three times since three years back.
The success stories of Hornbill Festival in neighbouring Nagaland and the flourishing tourism in Sikkim were highlighted during the plenary session of the seminar.