Thoughts & perspectives by Raj Bajaj- Chairman Perfect Travels & Tours Pvt Ltd

Ministry of Tourism Showcases Tourism Potential of North-Eastern States at 13th International Tourism Mart (ITM).

At an IEIA Roundtable in Delhi, government and industry leaders acknowledged that uneven pricing practices and weak destination-level planning are now bigger barriers than infrastructure itself.

This 4th session marked a critical step in shaping an integrated, action-oriented tourism blueprint for the Northeast sharpening priorities, identifying bottlenecks, and accelerating coordinated implementation across states.

The Tivoli Hotel met the Ministry of Tourism’s five-star criteria through its accommodation quality, guest facilities, safety and hygiene standards, dining options, professionally trained staff, and its ability to deliver guest experiences.

Although there was a slight dip to 13,21,169 in 2023, the state recovered again with 15,40,421 domestic tourists in 2024 and has already recorded 12,18,372 visitors till October 2025. For 2025, the govt has logged 46,591 foreign travellers till September and further growth is expected ahead.

He succeeds V. Vidyavathi, IAS (1991 batch), who has been moved to take charge as Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

During the ongoing 13th ITM, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu's proposal for regional convergence and joint promotion approach, supported by transformative infrastructure projects across the region, signalled a positive omen.

The return of this flagship event to the northeastern state represents a strategic pivot in India's ambitious plan to transform the region into a unified, world-class tourism circuit. With infrastructure and connectivity strengthening, tourism seeing an upsurge, over INR 3,000 cr invested in 65 projects, the Ministry of Tourism is betting big on this year's event.

Currently being held in Udaipur, this conference by MoT, aims to foster greater policy convergence in implementing the tourism transformation agenda, ensuring that every region contributes to building a globally competitive and sustainable tourism ecosystem for a Viksit Bharat.