The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and other North Eastern States, successfully concluded the 14th International Tourism Mart (ITM) held in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh from 29 to 31 October 2026. The event brought together domestic and international tourism stakeholders to showcase the tourism potential of the North Eastern Region, strengthen business partnerships, and promote sustainable and experience-based tourism.
The Mart witnessed significant participation with 43 international buyers from 22 countries (including Australia, Belarus, Bhutan, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, UK, and USA), 42 domestic buyers from 16 States and Union Territories, and 81 sellers. A total of 1580 structured business-to-business (B2B) meetings were conducted, facilitating opportunities for developing new tourism itineraries and establishing commercial partnerships.
During the technical sessions, Shri Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, highlighted India's substantial tourism growth metrics. Domestic Tourist Visits increased from 1.32 billion in 2014 to 4.34 billion in 2025, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 11%. The tourism sector supports 89 million jobs and contributes 5.22% to the national GDP. Infrastructure improvements in the North Eastern Region were noted, with airports increasing from 9 in 2014 to 17 and national highway network expanding from 10,905 km to 16,207 km.
The Regional Meeting of Tourism Ministers of the North Eastern States, held on 30 October 2026 under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, discussed key development priorities. Thematic presentations covered Dekho Apna Desh 2.0 focused on redistribution of tourism demand to lesser-known destinations, and the National Digital Tourism Stack (NDTS) aimed at creating a common digital ecosystem for tourism experiences and online bookings. Additional presentations addressed the Live Concert Economy potential for attracting tourists and generating local business opportunities, and Restricted Area Permit (RAP)/Protected Area Permit (PAP) requirements focusing on simplified application procedures and timely processing while maintaining security considerations.
The event featured presentations by all eight North Eastern States—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura—showcasing their tourism attractions and emerging circuits. The North East Bazaar exhibited traditional handicrafts, handlooms, textiles, and regional products, accompanied by cultural programmes. Delegates visited Tawang Monastery, Tawang War Memorial, and Urgelling Gompa, with technical visits to Buddha Park, PTSO Lake, and Shernup Village scheduled for the final day. Post-Mart familiarisation tours for international delegates commenced from Guwahati on 1 November 2026 to experience tourism destinations across the region.