Tawang, Oct 29 (PTI) The 14th edition of the International Tourism Mart (ITM), being hosted in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, will help identify “hidden gems” of tourism in the Northeast region and will provide a platform to forge new partnerships, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Thursday.
Interacting with reporters shortly before the inauguration of ITM 2026, the country’s tourism minister also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accorded new priority to the Northeast for its development.
In his address during the inaugural session, Shekhawat called for transforming the Northeast’s tourism potential into business opportunities and sustainable livelihoods.
Union Minister of State for Tourism Shri Suresh Gopi, Union Minister of State for Education and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Sukanta Majumdar, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu and Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang, were also present on the dais.
“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 Northeast region,” Shekhawat said.
Highlighting the region’s immense potential, the minister said its rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, spiritual traditions and natural landscapes offer distinctive opportunities for adventure, nature-based and experiential tourism.
Earlier, addressing the press conference, Shekhawat said the 14th International Tourism Mart has brought together 43 international buyers from 22 countries, the highest-ever international buyer participation, 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 northeastern region and showcase their tourism potential to domestic and international markets.
Highlighting the growth of tourism, he noted that domestic tourist visits to the eight Northeastern states increased from 95.65 lakh in 2019 to 1.51 crore in 2025, registering a growth of approximately 58 per cent.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu told reporters that Arunachal Pradesh felt fortunate to host the ITM for the second time
International Tourism Mart returned to Tawang after 13 years. The state hosted the second edition in 2013.
Khandu said in 2013, about one lakh tourists had visited Arunachal, and it had grown to about 10 lakh now.
The tourism ministry is hosting its annual international conclave to showcase the potential of the northeastern region in the sector in Tawang from October 29-31.
A Northeast Bazaar was also inaugurated on the opening day, while cultural performances highlighted the region’s rich traditions
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 October 30 to deliberate on tourism development, regional cooperation, tourist facilitation and emerging tourism opportunities. PTI KND KSI
KSI
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