Expressing his happiness and gratitude towards state tourism department for organising such a big event, Vanhela said, “Everyone has a duty to do for transforming Mizoram as a tourist destination. Tourism is the fastest growing business in the world today and Mizoram has a huge potential in this field,” said Vanhela.
To attract more tourists from different parts of the world, the state government has to maintain peace and harmony, the poeple of the state must be trustworthy, diligent, cleanliness and hospitality, added the chief secretary.
The State’s Tourism department director also spoke on the occasion and expressed his gratitude for gracing the programme and said that this is the 6th time that the department has been organising the festival yearly. He also hoped tourists from outside the state to have enjoyed the lustful green scenic beauty of Mizoram.
The festival is organised through Ministry of Tourism, said Mizoram Tourism Jt. Director Pu Biakthanmawia Pautu today. Mizo handloom ‘Traditional Costume Parade’ was also held today which is much appreciated by the people. Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and Tourism Minister S Hiato will grace the 3rd day of the festival tomorrow as chief guest and guest of honour respectively.
Anthurium festival serves the purpose of bringing togetherness among the different tribes in Mizoram and promote their culture and at the same time attract domestic and foreign states to the beauty of Mizoram. Many farmers in Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir and Darjeeling had contributed a lot to their state economy through Anthurium cultivation, taking a note of this, Mizoram government had also taking all-out efforts to promote Anthurium cultivation among the farmers. State Tourism Minister S Hiato, who also spoke at the festival inauguration yesterday, said the festival had been funded by the ministry of tourism with an aim to promote tourism industry in Mizoram.
Underlining that Mizoram has a huge potential in eco-tourism, the Minister stressed the need for Mizos to show hospitality and Mizo ethics to make tourists feel at home in the state. We have the potential to boost the state s economy through tourism. It is up to us to tap this potential, he urged. Nearly 500 families in Mizoram are engaged in Anthurium cultivation with financial assistance from the horticulture department. With over 300 families growing the flower, Aizawl district top all other districts in Anthurium cultivation.
Horticulture officials said owing to the state's suitable geographical conditions, Mizoram’s Anthurium flowers are of high quality and are in great demand in other states of India and even abroad, besides the local market. Decorated and medicated Anthurium flowers have been exported in huge numbers to countries like Japan, UAE, European countries through an agency called Zo Anthurium Growers Society (ZAGS) working for marketing and others improvement of anthurium farmers in Mizoram.
Besides this festival, ZAGS had organised Anthurium exhibition-cum-sale in various places of the state to promote farmers and selling the flowers at reasonable prices to the public.
Source: Newmai News Network
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