Nagaland is all set to host the 26th edition of the Hornbill Festival from December 1 at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, with the State government detailing a wide range of preparations, district-level extensions and procedural relaxations for foreign visitors.
Addressing media persons on Sunday, Minister for Tourism & Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along said the festival would open on Nagaland Statehood Day and noted that last year’s silver jubilee edition marked a major milestone.
He added that activities at the newly renamed “Unity Arena,” a part of the ongoing stadium project at Kisama, would begin with this year’s festival.
The Minister said the event would feature six international partners—France, Ireland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Malta and Austria—and a State partner, Arunachal Pradesh, whose Chief Minister would lead the delegation. Along said the government is focusing on building cultural relationships and strengthening connections with partner countries in order to widen Nagaland’s visibility and opportunities.
He announced that several districts would host their own Hornbill-related events. In Mon district, celebrations would be held at the Konyak Heritage Village in Mohn from December 8 to 10, which he described as an important cultural showcase for eastern Nagaland. Dimapur would begin its carnival from December 6, Wokha’s Doyang Festival would feature water-based activities, and Zünheboto along with other districts would also organise associated programmes.
He said the government aims to promote “experiential tourism” through these decentralised festivals.
Along acknowledged contributions from various departments such as Art & Culture, Horticulture, Agriculture, Industries, Youth Resources & Sports and IDAN, along with the support of the Police, Power, PHED and the Chief Secretary’s office.
He said the State had faced difficult weather conditions, with incessant rain continuing until just two or three weeks earlier, but engineering teams headed by Engineers worked tirelessly to complete required works on time. He also expressed appreciation to churches, youth volunteers, social media creators and performers, noting that Hornbill has grown into an international cultural event under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
Speaking on the Protected Area Permit (PAP), the Minister confirmed that the procedure for foreign visitors has been relaxed following intervention by the Chief Minister and relevant departments. He clarified that PAP remains mandatory but that the process at airports has been simplified to reduce delays and can generally be completed within 15 minutes if internet connectivity is stable.
He said the relaxation applies to all foreign tourists except those from Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.
Replying to questions on what Nagaland expects from this year’s partner countries, Along said the State has already gained from collaborations in areas such as resource mobilisation, cultural exchange, education and skill development. He pointed to the Japan-assisted Kohima Peace Memorial & Eco-Park under the JICA programme as an example of continuing cooperation rooted in shared wartime history. He added that Japanese language courses at Tetso College and Kohima Science College, together with research partnerships, reflect deepening ties.
On eastern Nagaland’s participation, the Minister said all tribes from the region are expected, observing that traditional culture and heritage practices are particularly strong in the eastern areas. He said the Mon celebrations would help take the festival “deep into their villages and history.”
Regarding reported estimates of ₹189 crore revenue and 7,000 jobs generated during last year’s festival, Along said these figures originated from the State’s statistical authorities but described them as “too low.”
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He estimated that total revenue likely exceeded ₹200–300 crore, and that business activities at Kisama alone may have reached ₹60–70 crore. He said thousands of people—including vendors, artisans, drivers, homestay operators, restaurants, musicians and performers—benefit from direct and indirect employment during the festival. More than 800 artists take part each year and are paid for their performances, he added.
The Minister said international arrivals cannot be predicted ahead of the festival, though Nagaland received about 310–315 foreign tourists in October. Accurate figures for the Hornbill period would be available only after the festival concludes. Most hotels and homestays are already fully booked, he noted.
He also informed that the Tourism Department received a sanction of ₹7 crore for the 2024 edition. On the introduction of paid entry for the Hornbill Music Festival, he said the fee is minimal and necessary to make the event more self-sustaining, adding that visitors in other Northeastern festivals regularly pay higher rates.
Responding to a media query about an Instagram post that mistakenly used the term “Chief Angh,” Along issued an apology and said the error was unintentional. He urged the Konyak community not to take the matter personally and confirmed that the post had been removed, saying that “changes will be made” and that there were “no excuses.”
Tourism officials said the number of temporary stalls managed by the department has increased significantly from about 23–24 last year to nearly 150 this year. Entry fees would be ₹250 for all visitors—local, domestic and foreign—while children in school uniforms would be considered separately.
Waste management, sanitation and maintenance would be overseen jointly with municipal authorities and other local bodies.
On infrastructure development at Kisama, Along clarified that the main arena is not undergoing reconstruction but is part of a two-year master plan, scheduled for completion by March 2026. He said last year’s structures formed only the first phase of the plan, with remaining works progressing steadily. Tourism director, Veyielo Doulo thanked the media for their consistent support over the past 26 years and said their work has played a key role in the growth of the Hornbill Festival.
