ITANAGAR, Oct 31: The 14th International Tourism Mart in Tawang recorded 1,580 business-to-business meetings, bringing together 43 international buyers from 22 countries, 42 domestic buyers from 16 states and Union Territories, and 81 tourism sellers.
Organised by the Union Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh government and other Northeastern states, the three-day event focused on tourism partnerships, infrastructure and promoting lesser-known destinations.
A meeting of tourism ministers from all eight Northeastern states, chaired by Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, discussed digital tourism services, community-led tourism, cultural events and simplifying Restricted Area and Protected Area permit procedures.
Ministry official Suman Billa said domestic tourist visits in India rose from 1.32 billion in 2014 to 4.34 billion in 2025. He added that the Northeast’s airport network had expanded from nine airports in 2014 to 17.
The Mart, inaugurated on October 29, also featured regional handicrafts, handlooms and cultural programmes. Tawang hosted the event for the second time, 13 years after the 2013 edition.
