For a change, 2019 Hornbill fest inaugural sans chief guest

Tourism, art & culture advisor H. Khehovi Yepthomi addressing press conference in Kohima on November 28. (Morung Photo)

Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 28

For a change, this time, the inaugural function of Hornbill festival of Nagaland 2019 on December 1, will take place without involving the customary practice of special guest or chief guest.

Tourism, art & culture advisor H. Khehovi Yepthomi informed this during a press conference here at directorate of tourism here today. He maintained that Hornbill festival is gaining momentum year after year and becoming bigger and better.
He is also expecting the increase in number of visitors/tourists this year. In the last Hornbill Festival 2018, the number of visitors touched 2, 51,701.

Out of this, foreign tourist consists 2702, domestic- 37, 397 and local visitors at 2, 11, 602.

Referring to signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbnb, which made it the official accommodation partner for upcoming Hornbill Festival, Yepthomi hoped that it will attract more tourists than before. 

Yepthomi said a budget of Rs. 5 crore is set for this year Hornbill festival.

He informed that the revenue generation through stalls/business establishments during 2018 Hornbill Festival touched over Rs. 45 crore.

Tourism director Akhale Vizol informed that it will strictly monitor total ban on single use plastic to create a plastic free environment. She also said that pricing committee has been constituted and it will take care of price regulation during the Hornbill Festival.

 The inaugural function of Hornbill Festival will take place at 4 pm on December 1 at the main arena Kisama with Nagaland’s Governor RN Ravi as the chief host and chief minister Neiphiu Rio as host.

Traditional blessing will be pronounced by Mongtei of Aniashu village. The function will be followed by visit to Bamboo pavilion and traditional museum.