Tawang, Oct 28 The tourism ministry is hosting its annual international conclave to showcase the potential of the northeastern region in the sector at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh from October 29-31.
Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu will attend the inaugural session of the 14th International Tourism Mart on Thursday, the ministry said.
A North East Bazaar will also be inaugurated on the opening day, while cultural performances will highlight the region’s rich traditions, officials said on Wednesday.
More than 200 participants, including domestic and international buyers and sellers, are likely to participate in the international tourism mart.
The event is expected to witness participation from 43 international buyers representing 22 countries, including Australia, Bhutan, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the UAE, the UK and the US, among others, the ministry said.
The tourism mart will also bring together domestic buyers, tourism service providers and sellers from the eight northeastern states, facilitating business interactions and opportunities for collaboration.
Chaired by Shekhawat, a meeting of tourism ministers from the northeastern states will be held on the sidelines of the event on October 30, providing a platform for discussions on strengthening tourism in the region and enhancing cooperation among the stakeholder states, the officials said.
The 14th edition of the International Tourism Mart (ITM) marks its return to Tawang after 13 years, following its second edition in 2013.
The 2025 edition of the ITM was held in Gangtok, Sikkim, in November.
The ITM is an annual flagship event of the tourism ministry aimed at promoting the northeastern region as a tourism destination in domestic and international markets.
It serves as a platform for tourism businesses, entrepreneurs, tour operators, government agencies, media and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for collaboration, strengthen tourism linkages and promote the region’s rich natural, cultural and adventure tourism offerings.
The 2026 edition will showcase destination and tourism product presentations by all eight northeastern states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
The presentations will highlight the distinctive tourism attractions, experiences and offerings of each state, along with combined tourism circuits and products of the region, the officials said.
The event will also feature business-to-business (B2B) sessions on October 30, facilitating interactions between domestic and international buyers and tourism service providers from the Northeast.
The engagements are aimed at promoting business collaborations, developing tourism products and strengthening market access for tourism entrepreneurs and service providers from the region, the officials said.
As part of the ITM, technical visits have been planned to prominent tourist attractions in and around Tawang, including the Tawang Monastery, Jaswant Garh War Memorial, Jang Waterfall, Tawang War Memorial, Urgelling Gompa – the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama – Buddha Park, Pankang Teng Tso Lake and Shernup Village, the ministry said.
These visits will provide the participants with first-hand exposure to the region’s spiritual heritage, natural landscapes, local traditions and rural tourism experiences, it said.
(PTI News)
