The Mart will feature tourism presentations by all eight North Eastern States and structured B2B meetings (Photos: India & You)
Showcasing the tourism potential of the eight North Eastern States and strengthening business engagement with domestic and international tourism markets, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the 14th edition of the International Tourism Mart (ITM), organised by the Union Ministry of Tourism, in association with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and other North Eastern States, on Wednedsay at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
On the occasion, Shekhawat also called for transforming North East’s tourism potential into business opportunities and sustainable livelihood.
In his address, Shekhawat emphasised that the International Tourism Mart has evolved beyond a promotional platform into an important avenue for tourism partnerships and business opportunities.
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“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,” said Shekhawat.
Also present at the inaugural session were Suresh Gopi, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum & Natural Gas, 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.
Besides, 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.
Highlighting the immense potential of the region, Shekhawat said that its rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, spiritual traditions and natural landscapes offer distinctive opportunities for adventure, nature-based and experiential tourism. He particularly 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.
Besides, 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
He also highlighted the government’s continued focus on improving connectivity, tourism infrastructure and destination experiences in the North Eastern Region. 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.
Earlier, addressing a press conference, Shekhawat highlighted that the 14th International Tourism Mart 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. He emphasised that 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.
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He said that domestic tourist visits to the eight North Eastern States increased from 9.57 million in 2019 to 15.1 millon in 2025, registering a growth of approximately 58 pc.
A cultural programme highlighting the rich traditions of the North Eastern States was also organised
Shekhawat underlined the government’s continued focus on strengthening tourism infrastructure and connectivity in the region. He informed that 16 projects worth INR 13.1 billion have been sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 1.0, 17 projects worth INR 5.64 billion under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, nine projects worth INR 1.39 billion under Challenge Based Destination Development, nine projects worth INR 7.9 billion under SASCI and nine projects worth INR 2.58 billion under PRASHAD. Additionally, the Ministry has supported 10 tourism routes in the North Eastern Region under the Regional Connectivity Scheme–UDAN. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to promoting sustainable tourism, improving visitor experiences and creating livelihood opportunities for local communities.
In his address, Suresh Gopi highlighted the opportunities for developing 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.
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.
The Mart will feature tourism presentations by all eight North Eastern States and structured B2B meetings. A Regional Meeting of Tourism Ministers of the North Eastern States will be held on Friday 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.
