14th International Tourism Mart Opens in Tawang, Arunachal

The International Tourism Mart (ITM) opened at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh on 29 October 2026. This is the fourteenth edition of the buyer-seller meet that the Union Ministry of Tourism runs for the North Eastern Region, and it is being held along with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the other north eastern states. The mart runs for three days, from 29 to 31 October 2026. Its purpose is to place the tourism products of the eight north eastern states before buyers from India and abroad and to turn the region's tourism potential into business.

Who was present

Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat addressed the opening session. With him on the dais were Minister of State for Tourism and for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Education and for Development of North Eastern Region Sukanta Majumdar, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. Tourism ministers of the north eastern states, officials of the central and state governments and travel trade representatives also attended. The minister said the mart is no longer only a shop window: it has become a place where partnerships are struck and business is generated for the region.

Buyers and sellers

At a press conference the minister said the edition has drawn 43 international buyers from 22 countries, the largest foreign buyer presence the mart has ever had. With them are 42 domestic buyers from 16 states and union territories, and 81 sellers. Holding the mart at Tawang, he said, would draw attention to destinations in the region that are still little known. The programme has tourism presentations by all eight north eastern states and structured business-to-business meetings.

How tourism in the region has grown

Domestic tourist visits to the eight north eastern states rose from 95.65 lakh in 2019 to 1.51 crore in 2025, a rise of roughly 58 per cent.

Projects sanctioned for the North East

Ten tourism routes in the region have also been supported under the Regional Connectivity Scheme, UDAN.

Other features of the mart

The North East Bazaar was opened at the venue with handicrafts, handlooms and other cultural wares of the region, and a cultural programme was staged. A regional meeting of the tourism ministers of the north eastern states is set for 30 October 2026 to discuss tourism development, regional cooperation and tourist facilitation. The mart has returned to Tawang after 13 years, the second edition having been held there in 2013. Suresh Gopi pointed to Dekho Apna Desh 2.0 and the National Digital Tourism Stack as the means of giving lesser known destinations digital visibility and market access.