Vinod Bhat
Tawang: Tourism in Northeast India is witnessing significant growth, with domestic tourist visits increasing by approximately 58 per cent between 2019 and 2025, as the 14th International Tourism Mart (ITM) concluded its official sessions in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, bringing together tourism stakeholders from across India and abroad.
Organised by the Union Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh government and other northeastern states, the three-day event, held from October 29 to 31, aimed to promote the region’s tourism potential, strengthen business partnerships and attract investment in sustainable tourism.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, domestic tourist visits to the eight northeastern states increased from 95.65 lakh in 2019 to 1.51 crore in 2025. The mart attracted 43 international buyers from 22 countries, 42 domestic buyers from 16 states and Union Territories, and 81 sellers, marking the highest international buyer participation in the event’s history.
Addressing the gathering, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the region’s biodiversity, cultural heritage, spiritual traditions and natural landscapes offered opportunities to develop adventure, nature-based and experiential tourism. He stressed that tourism growth must translate into business opportunities and sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
During the regional meeting of tourism ministers on October 30, discussions focused on improving connectivity, simplifying tourist permits, promoting lesser-known destinations and expanding digital access for local tourism businesses. The meeting also highlighted the National Digital Tourism Stack, intended to improve the visibility and online booking opportunities of homestays, guides and other tourism service providers.
The mart also facilitated 1,580 business-to-business meetings between tourism buyers and sellers, creating opportunities for new travel itineraries and commercial partnerships.
Presentations by the northeastern states highlighted their individual tourism strengths, with Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram showcasing plans to expand tourism beyond established attractions and develop integrated travel experiences.
Arunachal Pradesh presented a portfolio of destinations including Tawang, Ziro, Mechukha, Anini, Namsai and Dong, combining adventure, wildlife, festivals and living cultural traditions. Tawang, known for its monastery, Sela Pass and Sangetsar Lake, was promoted as a destination for cultural and high-altitude tourism, while Ziro was highlighted for its Apatani heritage, rice terraces, Talley Valley and Ziro Festival of Music. Mechukha was presented as an adventure destination offering trout angling, mountain biking and glacier-fed landscapes. Anini, meanwhile, was promoted for its Emuli grasslands, waterfalls, Mishmi Hills and Seven Lakes Trek. The eastern destinations of Namsai and Dong were highlighted for their Tai Khamti and Mishmi and Meyor cultural heritage, respectively.
The state’s tourism strategy also emphasised wildlife, biodiversity and community-led experiences. Its presentation featured attractions such as clouded leopards, hornbills, Bhutan Glory butterflies and hoolock gibbons, alongside opportunities for birdwatching, trekking and angling. The festival calendar includes Donyi, Losar, Tawang Festival, Ziro Festival of Music, Mopin, Solung, Sangken and the Orange Festival of Adventure and Music. The state also highlighted seasonal tourism planning, with autumn identified as a strong period for festivals, birdwatching and clear skies, while winter tourism requires checking high-pass road conditions. Arunachal’s connectivity plan includes Donyi Polo Airport in Itanagar, Naharlagun railway station and road connections to 14 tourism circuits. Indian visitors require an electronic Inner Line Permit, while foreign nationals need applicable Protected Area or Restricted Area Permits for approved routes.
Meghalaya presented itself as an emerging eco-tourism destination, reporting 18.5 lakh tourist visits in 2025, with tourism contributing 7.7 per cent to its Gross State Value Added. The state has more than 300 tourist sites, over 1,450 registered lodging facilities and approximately 75,000 livelihood opportunities linked to tourism. Its attractions include Nohkalikai Falls, Mawmluh Cave, the living root bridge at Nongriat, Mawphlang Sacred Grove, Umiam Lake and Mawlynnong village. The presentation also highlighted experiential tourism based on waterfalls, caves, rock formations, wildlife and local culture. Festivals have become an important source of employment and visitor footfall, with around 4.1 lakh visitors recorded at festivals in the financial year 2022-23, generating approximately 5,000 jobs. The Cherry Blossom Festival saw its footfall rise from 23,000 in 2022 to 75,000 in 2024. To improve accessibility, the state highlighted increased flights from Umroi Airport, located 18 kilometres from Shillong, and ongoing runway expansion to accommodate larger aircraft. Major infrastructure proposals include the Shillong Ropeway, a 123-metre-high Monolith Towers project with a 70-metre glass bridge, and the Meghalayan Theme Park at Mawkhanu, estimated to cost Rs 437.84 crore.
Mizoram highlighted its growing tourism numbers, recording 9,80,618 visitors in 2025-26, compared with 5,24,784 in 2024-25. The state, which has a population of approximately 12.77 lakh, showcased its 85.2 per cent forest cover, scenic landscapes, cultural traditions and relatively high literacy rate of 98.2 per cent. Its tourism offerings include trekking, cycling, river activities, birdwatching, paragliding, waterfalls and forest-based experiences, alongside Mizo cuisine, handloom, music and traditional festivals. The presentation highlighted the state’s Tourism Events and Festival Calendar 2026, featuring Chapchar Kut, Anthurium Festival, Hnahsin Kut, Winter Festival and Leitlangpui Music Festival. The Leitlangpui Music Festival recorded more than 73,000 visitors and an estimated economic impact of Rs 2-2.5 crore, while the 2025 Winter Festival attracted over 80,000 visitors and generated an estimated Rs 1.96 crore in economic activity. Mizoram also highlighted its expanding tourism infrastructure, including 103 hotels, 112 homestays, 64 guest houses and lodges, and 125 registered tour guides. Its future plans include an infrastructure investment pipeline of Rs 608.38 crore, developing international-standard destinations and positioning the state as a winter tourism destination. Connectivity through Lengpui Airport and the Bairabi-Sairang railway line was also highlighted as an important factor in improving access to the state.
Speaking about the region’s prospects, Suman Billa, Director General of Tourism and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, said the Northeast offered travellers a sense of discovery through its landscapes, cuisine, spiritual traditions and local cultures. He emphasised connecting smaller tourism businesses, particularly homestay owners, with international markets.
The mart’s discussions also underlined the importance of balancing tourism expansion with environmental protection and community participation. With rising visitor numbers, the region is seeking to turn its natural and cultural attractions into sustainable economic opportunities.
