KOHIMA: Nagaland Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Yitachu has expressed happiness over the increasing rate in tourist inflow during the ongoing Hornbill festival but rued that the state could hardly absorb 20 to 30 per cent of the total number of tourists due to lack of accommodation. However, it has increased to 30 to 40 per cent this year, he said.
Speaking to media persons at the ongoing Hornbill Festival at the Naga Heritage Village at Kisama last evening, Mr Yitachu said the accommodation available in Kohima and Dimapur were just around 400 rooms and these were below par compared to star hotels in other parts of India and the world, Yitachu said.
”There were so many tourists who were willing to visit the state but we could not accommodate them,” he said, adding. ”We are keeping track of both foreign and domestic tourists visiting Naga Heritage village of Kisama by asking them to register themselves at the gate on the first day,” he said. Altogether 149 foreign and 1241 domestic tourists were registered.
On the second day, 120 Foreign and 985 domestic tourists were registered against 20,000 local visitors on the first day and 17,000 visitors on the second day.
Yitachu said the tourists had realised the difference between their perceptions of the state before and after their visit to the state. All tourists were safe and enjoying, he added.
However, he termed as unfortunate the incident in which a Polish tourist was found dead at Tuophema tourist village on Friday. (UNI)