Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is hosting the 14th edition of the International Tourism Mart (ITM) from October 29 to 31, bringing together more than 200 domestic and international tourism stakeholders to promote tourism in the Northeast, strengthen business partnerships and expand the region’s access to national and international markets.
Organised by the Union Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh government and other northeastern states, the three-day event is expected to attract 43 international buyers from 22 countries, along with domestic buyers, tour operators and tourism service providers from across the eight northeastern states.
The event has returned to Tawang after 13 years. The town hosted the second edition of the International Tourism Mart in 2013, while the previous edition was held in Gangtok, Sikkim, in November 2025.
The inaugural programme on October 29 is scheduled to be attended by Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi, and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. The opening programme will include the inauguration of the North East Bazaar and cultural performances showcasing the region’s traditions.
The mart will provide a platform for the eight northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura — to present their tourism destinations, cultural heritage, adventure activities and opportunities for joint tourism circuits.
Tourism presentations will highlight the region’s diverse attractions, ranging from monasteries, historical sites and traditional festivals to mountain landscapes, wildlife destinations and community-based tourism experiences. The initiative is expected to help tourism businesses present new travel products to potential buyers and encourage visitors to explore destinations across state boundaries.
Business-to-business (B2B) meetings scheduled for October 30 will connect domestic and international buyers with tourism operators and service providers from the Northeast. These sessions are intended to help regional businesses establish commercial partnerships, develop tourism packages and gain access to wider markets.
The programme will also examine emerging opportunities in the region’s tourism sector, including the development of live events and the concert economy. A session led by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will discuss the potential of events and concerts to attract visitors, generate business opportunities and support local economies.
Another important discussion, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs, will focus on facilitating tourist access to protected and restricted areas in the Northeast. The discussions are expected to examine ways to improve tourism opportunities while taking into account the applicable regulations and security requirements in these areas.
Royal Enfield will conduct a session titled ‘Beyond Destinations: Creating Immersive Journeys in North East India’. The session will focus on experience-based tourism and the potential to develop journeys that allow visitors to explore the region’s landscapes, local communities and cultural traditions.
The North East Bazaar will be another major attraction of the event, providing a platform for artisans and producers to showcase traditional handicrafts, textiles, artwork and other cultural products from the eight states. Regional food offerings and cultural programmes will also introduce delegates to the diverse culinary traditions of the Northeast.
As part of the programme, technical visits have been planned to several tourist attractions in and around Tawang. These include Tawang Monastery, Jaswant Garh War Memorial, Jang Waterfall, Tawang War Memorial, Urgelling Gompa, Buddha Park, Pankang Teng Tso Lake and Shernup Village.
The visits are intended to familiarise delegates with Tawang’s religious and historical heritage, natural landscapes and rural tourism opportunities. The destinations also offer an opportunity to showcase the district’s potential for cultural, spiritual, nature-based and community tourism.
Familiarisation tours for international delegates will begin from Guwahati on November 1, allowing participants to explore selected destinations beyond the venue of the mart.
A regional meeting of tourism ministers from the northeastern states is also scheduled for October 30 under the chairmanship of Shekhawat. The meeting will focus on tourism development and cooperation among the states, including opportunities to promote the Northeast as a connected tourism region.
The return of the International Tourism Mart to Tawang provides an opportunity to bring the region’s tourism businesses into closer contact with travel buyers and industry representatives. Through business meetings, destination presentations and cultural showcases, the event aims to strengthen tourism partnerships and improve the visibility of northeastern destinations in domestic and international markets.
For Arunachal Pradesh, hosting the event also places Tawang in the spotlight as a destination known for its Buddhist heritage, mountain scenery and cultural attractions. The participation of tourism stakeholders from across India and abroad is expected to create opportunities for local operators to build networks and develop new tourism products.