Moa Jamir
Hornbill Festival must learn to fly solo
In 2023, the Nagaland Tourism Department was allocated Rs 5.50 crore to host the Hornbill Festival, a cultural extravaganza celebrating the rich heritage of the state. However, the direct monetary return from the festival amounted to a mere Rs 17,11,980 (Rs 17.11 lakh), representing just over 3% of the total expenditure.
At face value, the return on investment appears to be too meagrea sum. Nevertheless, Nagaland’s Tourism and Higher Education Minister, Temjen Imna Along, defended the festival’s economic impact, emphasising the substantial indirect returns during a session in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on February 27.
The festival, renowned as a ‘most-sought-after event,’ should not be evaluated solely based on direct government revenue generation, he asserted in response to a question in the Assembly and highlighted huge indirect returns. “The actual investment of the government generates more than twenty-fold times in return for the economic partners of the festival which are infused into the local economy,” he added. The Minister, however, acknowledged potential leakages in revenue collection and assured to digitalise the process to prevent pilferage.
Despite the modest direct monetary gains, the State Government remains undeterred and has already begun preparations for the silver jubilee edition of the festival. “Visited the Naga Heritage Village to oversee preparations for the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival,” Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio posted on X on March 11.
Right after the 2023 edition, he noted that the festival not only showcases the rich tapestry of Nagaland’s heritage and provides a platform for cultural exchange but also contributed significantly to the socio-economic growth of the region. The “Festival of Festivals” has not just become an annual event but a beacon of unity, promoting harmony and understanding among people from different walks of life, he maintained.
Some of the indirect benefits manifest in various forms, including heightened State profile, increased business opportunities for locals, capacity building, diplomatic relations, and tangible changes such as infrastructure development.
However, it is essential to scrutinise the trade-off between the meagre direct returns and the purported substantial indirect benefits. The key question that arises is whether these indirect gains outweigh the substantial investments in the festival. Furthermore, there is a need to ensure that public investments are equitably distributed across the entire economy.
As a cultural amalgamation, the Hornbill Festival should not merely serve as a visual spectacle but also contribute to the preservation of Nagaland’s organic culture. It is imperative to strike a balance between showcasing the State’s unique heritage to visitors and ensuring the authentic preservation of cultural traditions and not forgetting the conservation of the Hornbill bird, the very creature that lends its name to this grand celebration.
Given Nagaland’s financial constraints, the sustainability of bankrolling such a festival with limited returns to the public exchequer should also be considered. As preparations for the 25th edition begin, the government must align tourism strategies with other economic plans. A long-term perspective, coupled with an evaluation mechanism, is crucial to ensure the festival’s sustainability.
As the festival approaches its 25th year, it should ideally be self-sustaining. Therefore, it is now imperative to reassess its economic viability and a foolproof revenue generation mechanism must be established to plug any leakages. The State Government, along with the tourism department, must formulate a blueprint that guarantees a robust trade-off between direct and indirect benefits. Public investments should be transparent, and the benefits must be shared fairly among all stakeholders.
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