Kohima, Dec 1: Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday asserted that Nagaland continues to be “one of the most peaceful states in India,” crediting the absence of major law-and-order concerns for the state’s steady development trajectory.
Speaking at the 63rd Statehood Day celebration at the Nagaland Secretariat Plaza, Rio said the state has made “remarkable progress” and that sustained peace will remain the cornerstone of Nagaland’s prosperity.
In a significant development for tourism, the Chief Minister welcomed the Ministry of Home Affairs’ decision to relax the Protected Area Permit (PAP) restrictions for foreign tourists during the 10-day Hornbill Festival, which began Monday.
Calling the temporary exemption a positive step, Rio urged the Centre to permanently lift the PAP regime, arguing that doing so would unlock Nagaland’s full potential as a global tourism destination and spur economic growth.
The MHA had, on November 29, informed Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen that the Centre had approved Nagaland’s request for a one-time relaxation to enable greater international participation in the annual cultural festival held at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, 12 km from Kohima.
Officials said the state government had repeatedly appealed over the past year for the temporary waiver, citing increasing interest from foreign visitors and the festival’s growing global profile.
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