Government of India has intensified tourism development in the North Eastern Region through digital promotion, infrastructure projects, enhanced air connectivity, cultural events, and sustainable initiatives. Key schemes and the International Tourism Mart 2025 highlight the region’s growing tourism potential.
The Government of India has intensified its efforts to accelerate tourism development across the North Eastern Region (NER), unveiling a comprehensive framework of initiatives designed to promote sustainable growth, enhance connectivity, and strengthen the region’s global tourism footprint. As part of its continuing mission, the Ministry of Tourism remains focused on showcasing India’s diverse destinations—including the distinct cultural, natural, and adventure-rich landscapes of the North East—through a range of promotional activities, infrastructure projects, and strategic collaborations.
Since 2013, the Ministry has been organising the International Tourism Mart (ITM) in the North Eastern Region—a flagship annual event aimed at highlighting the tourism potential of the eight states: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim. The 2025 edition of ITM was hosted in Gangtok, Sikkim, from 13–16 November 2025, drawing tourism businesses, entrepreneurs, government agencies, media representatives, buyers, and sellers from across India and abroad. The event served as a powerful platform to foster partnerships, encourage market linkages, and promote the region as a compelling destination for both domestic and international tourists.
Digital Promotion and Enhanced Online Visibility
In a significant digital intervention, the Ministry of Tourism revamped the Incredible India website into the Incredible India Digital Platform (IIDP) in September 2024. The platform now features multilingual content in English, Hindi, and all UN official languages, ensuring wider global reach. The website’s dedicated sections on North Eastern destinations showcase the region’s unique attractions—ranging from eco-tourism trails and heritage locations to vibrant festivals and adventure tourism circuits.
To further push North East tourism into mainstream visibility, the Ministry maintains an active presence across major social media platforms, consistently sharing creative posts, live sessions, video features, and promotional campaigns focused on the region. These efforts aim to inspire travel interest, create awareness about hidden gems, and support tourism entrepreneurs in the region.
Support to States for Festivals and Cultural Events
Recognizing the cultural richness of the North East, the Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territories for organizing fairs, festivals, and tourism-related events under the DPPH scheme. These events play an essential role in celebrating local heritage, promoting traditional arts and cuisine, and attracting visitors seeking authentic travel experiences. Several North Eastern states have already benefitted from this support, strengthening their tourism calendar and improving local engagement.
Infrastructure Development Under Flagship Schemes
Tourism infrastructure development remains a top priority for the Government of India. The Ministry implements multiple schemes—such as Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, Assistance to Central Agencies, SASCI, and Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)—to support states in building world-class tourism facilities. These projects include the development of pilgrimage sites, eco-tourism zones, adventure tourism amenities, rural tourism clusters, and integrated tourism hubs.
A revamped Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0) was introduced with an emphasis on sustainable and responsible tourism, adopting a destination-centric approach to ensure long-term environmental and community benefits. Several North Eastern states have already received project sanction under these schemes, enabling the creation of modern infrastructure that aligns with global tourism standards.
Cleanliness Mission for Better Tourist Experience
The Ministry of Tourism is actively implementing the Swachhta Action Plan (SAP) in partnership with the Ministry of Jal Shakti. During 2024–25, a total of 173 activities—including tourist awareness drives, stakeholder workshops, and student engagement programmes—were conducted across various institutions in the region. Additionally, under nationwide cleanliness campaigns Swachhta Pakhwada and Swachhta Hi Sewa (SHS), more than 500 activities were carried out, reinforcing the focus on hygiene and responsible tourism.
Boost in Air Connectivity Through RCS-UDAN
Improved connectivity remains vital for unlocking the tourism potential of the North East. Through the RCS-UDAN regional air connectivity scheme, the Ministry of Civil Aviation—supported by the Ministry of Tourism through Viability Gap Funding—has expanded affordable air travel to key locations in the region. Newly included Tourism RCS routes cover major sectors such as:
Dibrugarh–Dimapur
Dimapur–Imphal
Agartala–Aizawl
Dibrugarh–Imphal
Hollongi–Guwahati
These routes significantly improve accessibility to remote destinations, encouraging higher tourist inflow and supporting local economies.
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The details were shared by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
