Guwahati: Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday stressed the need to improve the state’s law-and-order situation and upgrade tourism infrastructure to restore tourist confidence and revive the industry, with the prolonged crisis taking a heavy toll on the state’s tourism sector.Speaking at a World Tourism Day 2026 programme at Sangai Ethnic Park in Moirang Khunou in Bishnupur district, Khemchand said Manipur’s tourism potential could not be realised without a peaceful environment. Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Khemchand jointly attended the event, held on the theme, ‘Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism’.Khemchand said tourists would not choose Manipur without peace and stressed that restoring normalcy required collective efforts. “The govt alone cannot bring peace in the state,” he said, calling for the involvement of all stakeholders.The CM said around 1.75 lakh tourists visited Manipur in a year before the 2023 crisis, a figure he said was higher than neighbouring Mizoram’s tourist arrivals at the time. However, the situation has since reversed, he said. “The number of tourists visiting Mizoram has crossed eight lakhs, resulting in an increase in revenue generated by the neighbouring state, while the tourist inflow in Manipur has drastically decreased due to the crisis in the state.”He also cited Sikkim, where annual tourist arrivals have crossed 17 lakh, attributing the high inflow to the state’s stable law-and-order situation.Khemchand said beautification of tourist destinations alone would not be sufficient. Manipur needed better itineraries, facilities and tourism infrastructure capable of meeting the expectations of foreign visitors, he added.Tourism minister Khuraijam Loken Singh said tourism was an important source of revenue and development for the state. He stressed that unity among Manipur’s 36 communities was essential for peace and development.Bhalla launched the Manipur Tech Innovation Foundation portal, while CM relaunched the revamped Explore Manipur — Reimagining Tourism portal. “The true strength of Manipur tourism goes beyond its landscapes and monuments; it lies in our people and communities. The real tourism lies in our distinctive way of life and separate tradition for welcoming guests,” Bhalla said.He said technology was particularly relevant to tourism as digital platforms increasingly shaped how travellers discovered and experienced destinations.“The govt is actively promoting homestays, empowering local families to convert their home into tourist accommodations, thereby ensuring that tourism revenue reaches the grass roots,” Bhalla added.The state govt also announced that NorthEast United FC will bring the Indian Super League to Manipur for the first time, with a match scheduled for Nov 24.
