The Ministry of Tourism has reaffirmed its focus on developing the Northeastern Region (NER) as a high-potential destination for domestic and international travellers. The government’s approach focuses on improving connectivity, developing tourism infrastructure, strengthening cleanliness initiatives and creating more opportunities for business networking.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat outlined the government’s efforts in the Lok Sabha, highlighting several initiatives aimed at supporting tourism development across the eight states of the Northeast.
One of the key platforms for promoting the region is the International Tourism Mart (ITM), which serves as a B2B platform connecting tourism businesses from the Northeast with global stakeholders. The latest edition was held in Gangtok, Sikkim, in November 2025.
The event provided tourism entrepreneurs, media representatives and government stakeholders with opportunities to connect, explore collaborations and build long-term partnerships across the Northeastern states.
The Ministry has also been promoting the region through the revamped Incredible India Digital Platform (IIDP). The Incredible India website was revamped in September 2024 to engage visitors across web and social media platforms. Its content is available in Hindi, English and the UN languages, and includes information on tourism destinations across the Northeastern states.
Infrastructure development remains another key focus area. Through schemes including Swadesh Darshan, the National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD), Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development, Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) and Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), the Ministry provides financial assistance for tourism-related infrastructure and facilities.
The Swadesh Darshan scheme has also been revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0), with a focus on developing sustainable and responsible tourism destinations through a destination and tourism-centric approach.
The Ministry is also working to improve cleanliness and operational standards at tourist destinations. Under the Swachhta Action Plan, in coordination with the Ministry of Jal Shakti, hundreds of cleanliness-awareness activities have been conducted across tourist sites. Students and industry stakeholders have also participated in these initiatives.
Annual campaigns such as Swachhta Hi Sewa further support these efforts, with the aim of improving the overall tourism environment and strengthening the Northeast’s appeal as a clean and responsible destination for visitors.
Connectivity is another important part of the government’s tourism strategy for the region. The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN) to make regional air travel more affordable. The Ministry of Tourism has supported the initiative by extending Viability Gap Funding under the Champion Service Sector Scheme to improve air connectivity to key tourist destinations.
Several routes in the Northeastern Region have been included as Tourism RCS routes under the initiative. These include Dibrugarh–Dimapur, Dimapur–Dibrugarh, Dimapur–Imphal, Imphal–Dimapur, Agartala–Aizawl, Aizawl–Agartala, Dibrugarh–Imphal, Imphal–Dibrugarh, Hollongi–Guwahati and Guwahati–Hollongi.
Through these initiatives, the Ministry of Tourism is working to strengthen infrastructure, connectivity, digital promotion and industry engagement across the Northeast. The combined focus is aimed at creating a stronger tourism ecosystem and positioning the region as an attractive destination for both Indian and international travellers.
