Reeling under conflict.... Lowest tourist footfall logged in 2025
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 15 : Even as the ongoing violent conflict since May 2023 is affecting every sphere of life of the public, Manipur is witnessing a declining tourism sector.
The number of tourists including domestic and foreign visitors has dropped by more than 84 percent from pre-Covid period.
As many as 1,77,448 tourists visited Manipur in 2019. But in a stark contrast to this record of the pre-Covid period, only 28,173 tourists visited Manipur in 2025.
With spates of violent conflict still continuing in parts of Manipur, the number of visitors is only declining, affecting the tourism industry and sections of the people including artisans who depend on the sector.
Speaking to this paper, a high ranking official of the State Tourism Department said the violent conflict has not spared the tourism sector and effectively cut revenues for the department and the people whose livelihoods depend on it.
Before the conflict, major festivals, including the Ma-nipur Sangai Festival, Shirui Lily Festival, Orange Festival and several other indigenous festivities were attracting thousands of visitors every year, generating good revenues for the State and the locals including craftsmen and artisans, said the officer.
Notably, the State Government did hold some festivals in 2025. The Sangai Festival was organised amid massive protests in 2025 and ended up recording negligible footfall.
While it is understandable that festivals couldn't be held due to the ongoing conflict, it nonetheless is adversely affecting the State and people who depend on the tourism sector, added the official.
The COVID-19 certainly had an impact on the flow of tourists, but it had returned to normal before it was affected again by the conflict in 2023, added the official.
Data provided by the official shows a declining trend of visitors.
As per the record, Manipur recorded a total of 1,77,448 tourists, including 1,65,006 domestic visitors and 12,442 foreign visitors in 2019.
Affected by Covid pandemic, in 2020, the number of tourists fell to 52,862, including 49,711 domestic visitors and 3,151 foreign visitors.
In 2021, the State recorded 50,227 tourists, including 49,580 domestic visitors and 647 foreign visitors.
The Covid pandemic was then controlled and the number of tourists visiting Manipur then bounced back in 2022.
In 2022, Manipur recorded a total of 1,51,934 tourists, including 1,48,016 domestic visitors and 3,918 foreign visitors.
Then, violent conflict broke out in May 2023 affecting tourist footfall.
In 2023, Manipur recorded a total of 61,281 tourists, including 57,701 domestic visitors and 3,580 foreign visitors.
The number of tourists recorded per month from January to April (2023) was over 10,000 domestic visitors and around 500 foreign visitors. From May, the number declined sharply and June recorded the lowest-- 831 domestic visitors and 88 foreign visitors.
In 2024, the strife-torn State recorded a total of 31,620 tourists, including 29,102 domestic visitors and 2,518 foreign visitors.
The number further declined in 2025, with the State recording a new low of 28,173 tourists--only about 15 percent of what it recorded in 2019.
The 28,173 tourists included 25,281 domestic visitors and 2,892 foreign visitors.
Upto April 2026, Manipur has recorded a total of 9,327 tourists, including 8,370 domestic visitors and 957 foreign visitors.
Judging by the trend and the ongoing clashes in places along vital State Highways, the number is expected to dip further, said the official.
For a State like Manipur which has no resources and industries of its own, tourism is an important sector which generates revenues and provides livelihoods for the locals, added the officials.
The ongoing conflict has affected all sections of the society and also the Government, its machinery and departments. If it persists for a longer period without a resolution, it could take years for the people, the State as well as the tourism sector to bounce back, said the official.
IMPHAL, Jun 15 : Even as the ongoing violent conflict since May 2023 is affecting every sphere of life of the public, Manipur is witnessing a declining tourism sector.
The number of tourists including domestic and foreign visitors has dropped by more than 84 percent from pre-Covid period.
As many as 1,77,448 tourists visited Manipur in 2019. But in a stark contrast to this record of the pre-Covid period, only 28,173 tourists visited Manipur in 2025.
With spates of violent conflict still continuing in parts of Manipur, the number of visitors is only declining, affecting the tourism industry and sections of the people including artisans who depend on the sector.
Speaking to this paper, a high ranking official of the State Tourism Department said the violent conflict has not spared the tourism sector and effectively cut revenues for the department and the people whose livelihoods depend on it.
Before the conflict, major festivals, including the Ma-nipur Sangai Festival, Shirui Lily Festival, Orange Festival and several other indigenous festivities were attracting thousands of visitors every year, generating good revenues for the State and the locals including craftsmen and artisans, said the officer.
Notably, the State Government did hold some festivals in 2025. The Sangai Festival was organised amid massive protests in 2025 and ended up recording negligible footfall.
While it is understandable that festivals couldn't be held due to the ongoing conflict, it nonetheless is adversely affecting the State and people who depend on the tourism sector, added the official.
The COVID-19 certainly had an impact on the flow of tourists, but it had returned to normal before it was affected again by the conflict in 2023, added the official.
Data provided by the official shows a declining trend of visitors.
As per the record, Manipur recorded a total of 1,77,448 tourists, including 1,65,006 domestic visitors and 12,442 foreign visitors in 2019.
Affected by Covid pandemic, in 2020, the number of tourists fell to 52,862, including 49,711 domestic visitors and 3,151 foreign visitors.
In 2021, the State recorded 50,227 tourists, including 49,580 domestic visitors and 647 foreign visitors.
The Covid pandemic was then controlled and the number of tourists visiting Manipur then bounced back in 2022.
In 2022, Manipur recorded a total of 1,51,934 tourists, including 1,48,016 domestic visitors and 3,918 foreign visitors.
Then, violent conflict broke out in May 2023 affecting tourist footfall.
In 2023, Manipur recorded a total of 61,281 tourists, including 57,701 domestic visitors and 3,580 foreign visitors.
The number of tourists recorded per month from January to April (2023) was over 10,000 domestic visitors and around 500 foreign visitors. From May, the number declined sharply and June recorded the lowest-- 831 domestic visitors and 88 foreign visitors.
In 2024, the strife-torn State recorded a total of 31,620 tourists, including 29,102 domestic visitors and 2,518 foreign visitors.
The number further declined in 2025, with the State recording a new low of 28,173 tourists--only about 15 percent of what it recorded in 2019.
The 28,173 tourists included 25,281 domestic visitors and 2,892 foreign visitors.
Upto April 2026, Manipur has recorded a total of 9,327 tourists, including 8,370 domestic visitors and 957 foreign visitors.
Judging by the trend and the ongoing clashes in places along vital State Highways, the number is expected to dip further, said the official.
For a State like Manipur which has no resources and industries of its own, tourism is an important sector which generates revenues and provides livelihoods for the locals, added the officials.
The ongoing conflict has affected all sections of the society and also the Government, its machinery and departments. If it persists for a longer period without a resolution, it could take years for the people, the State as well as the tourism sector to bounce back, said the official.