The recently-concluded four-day Shirui Lily Festival 2022 hosted by Manipur’s Ukhrul district saw a record footfall and revenue generation.

According to data shared by the tourism department, the festival, held after two years because of the Covid pandemic, attracted a footfall of 2.19 lakh tourists/visitors and generated approximately Rs 14.36 crore in revenue against an investment of around Rs 4.5 crore.

A visitor spent around Rs 650 a day.

The success of the event saw Manipur tourism director W. Ibohal Singh promise a “even better, bigger and memorable” festival from next year.

Organised by the Manipur tourism department of Tourism from May 25 to 28, the festival is aimed at raising awareness about the endangered state flower — Shirui Lily — which is endemic to the Kashong Hills in Shirui village, and the government’s ongoing efforts to foster sustainable and responsible tourism by bringing communities under one roof.

The turnout increased from around 20,000 on the inaugural day to nearly a lakh on the concluding day which saw live performance by British metal band Monuments, a tourism official said.

Contestants at the Shirui Lily festival beauty pageant. Manipur Tourism

The festival, which started in 2017, had attracted just over 12,000 foreigners in the 2019 edition, the last one before the Covid-induced break of two years.

Tourism director W. Ibohal Singh told The Telegraph that they have identified infrastructure and traffic challenges and he was confident of fixing these before the next edition.

“With the state government’s extending complete support, we will be able to fix these challenges to make the festival better, bigger and memorable for visitors and tourists,” Singh said.

Sources said visitors and tourists faced a tough time negotiating the 83km Imphal-Ukhrul Road, which is in bad shape. The 5km one-lane Ukhrul-Shirui Road too could not absorb the rush in traffic.

Second, traffic management became a nightmare from Ukhrul to Shirui with all vacant spaces occupied by vehicles.

Third, the infrastructure at Bakshi ground in Ukhrul, one of the venues, was affected by rain, sources said. It was the venue for Shirock, 2022, one of the main attractions of the festival.

Singh was, however, confident these challenges will be taken care of with help of the state government which is developing the Imphal-Ukhrul Road while the Ukhrul-Shirui Road will be turned into two-lane so that visitors and tourists can have a smooth ride the next time they come calling.

Singh said the state government has earmarked Rs 46.5 crore for infrastructure development which will go towards beautification of the Shirui village, building of cottages between Shirui and Ukhrul for visitors, a huge pandal, developing the venues and other public utilities so that Ukhrul can cope with the rush of visitors.

“We will also tap into funds from the minority affairs ministry for beautification and building public utilities,” Singh said.

The tourism director also said they will be reaching out to more airports and more cities as part of their media campaign to attract tourists.

“We can now plan better because the festival will be held from May 25 to 28 every year,” he said.

Live music and cultural shows, traditional dances, folk songs, beauty pageants, exhibits, indigenous games, and sports competitions marked the festival, which celebrates Manipur’s vast biodiversity and rich cultural legacy.

The festival allows travellers to learn about the Tangkhul Naga tribe of Ukhrul and explore Manipur’s highest hill station through its cultural origins, values, and customs.