The 14th International Tourism Mart (ITM) was inaugurated in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, on Thursday, with Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighting the region’s tourism potential and calling for transforming it into business opportunities and sustainable livelihood for local communities. The three-day event, being held from 29 to 31 October, has brought together 43 international buyers from 22 countries, the highest-ever international buyer participation at ITM, along with 42 domestic buyers from 16 States and Union Territories and 81 sellers.
Organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and other North Eastern States, the Mart aims to showcase the tourism potential of the eight North Eastern States and strengthen business engagement with domestic and international tourism markets.
Domestic Tourist Visits to North East Rise by 58%
Highlighting the growth of tourism in the region, Shekhawat said domestic tourist visits to the eight North Eastern States increased from 95.65 lakh in 2019 to 1.51 crore in 2025, registering a growth of approximately 58%.
He said hosting the Mart in Tawang would bring greater attention to lesser-known destinations in the North Eastern Region and showcase their tourism potential to domestic and international markets.
Addressing the inaugural session, Shekhawat said the International Tourism Mart had evolved beyond a promotional platform into an important avenue for tourism partnerships and business opportunities.
“ITM is not merely a tourism marketplace; it is a platform for building partnerships, generating business opportunities and creating a shared vision for the growth of tourism in the North East Region,” he said.
Tourism Infrastructure and Connectivity
The Minister highlighted the Government’s continued focus on strengthening tourism infrastructure and connectivity in the region.
He said 16 projects worth ₹1,309 crore have been sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 1.0, 17 projects worth ₹564 crore under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, nine projects worth ₹139 crore under Challenge Based Destination Development, nine projects worth ₹790 crore under SASCI and nine projects worth ₹258 crore under PRASHAD.
Additionally, the Ministry has supported ten tourism routes in the North Eastern Region under the Regional Connectivity Scheme–UDAN.
Shekhawat reiterated the Government’s commitment to promoting sustainable tourism, improving visitor experiences and creating livelihood opportunities for local communities. He also underlined the Ministry’s support for tourism promotion through domestic and international travel fairs, festivals, digital platforms and familiarisation visits, along with skill development initiatives to create employment opportunities for local youth.
Focus on Adventure, Cultural and Experiential Tourism
Highlighting the region’s tourism potential, Shekhawat said its rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, spiritual traditions and natural landscapes offer distinctive opportunities for adventure, nature-based and experiential tourism.
He emphasised the potential of adventure tourism, music festivals and concert tourism to attract new visitor segments, encourage longer stays and generate economic opportunities for local communities. He also called for developing tourism experiences with appropriate safety standards, community participation and environmental safeguards.
Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum & Natural Gas Suresh Gopi highlighted opportunities to develop innovative tourism products, including cultural, adventure, festival and community-based experiences.
He also emphasised the importance of the Ministry’s initiatives, Dekho Apna Desh 2.0 and the National Digital Tourism Stack, in promoting lesser-known destinations and improving digital visibility and market access for local tourism service providers.
North East Bazaar Inaugurated
The inaugural session was attended by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture; Suresh Gopi, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum & Natural Gas; Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Union Minister of State for Education and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER); Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh; and Prem Singh Tamang, Chief Minister of Sikkim.
Tourism Ministers from the North Eastern States, senior officials of the Central and State Governments, international and domestic tourism stakeholders, and representatives of the travel industry were also present.
As part of the programme, the North East Bazaar was inaugurated, showcasing traditional handicrafts, handlooms and other cultural offerings of the region. A cultural programme highlighting the rich traditions of the North Eastern States was also organised.
B2B Meetings, Regional Tourism Ministers’ Meeting on October 30
The Mart features tourism presentations by all eight North Eastern States and structured business-to-business (B2B) meetings.
A Regional Meeting of Tourism Ministers of the North Eastern States will be held on 30 October 2026 to deliberate on tourism development, regional cooperation, tourist facilitation and emerging tourism opportunities.
The 14th edition marks the return of the International Tourism Mart to Tawang after 13 years, following the second edition held here in 2013. The event seeks to strengthen tourism partnerships, promote lesser-known destinations and position the North Eastern Region as a leading destination for sustainable and experience-based tourism.
-PIB Inputs
