International Tourism Mart Returns to Tawang After 13 Years: 43 International Buyers From 22 Countries

The Ministry of Tourism, in association with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the other North Eastern States, is organising the 14th edition of the International Tourism Mart (ITM) for the North Eastern Region from 29 to 31 October 2026 at Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. The three-day event at Hotel Vivanta, Tawang, brings together domestic and international tourism stakeholders to showcase the region's tourism potential and build business partnerships.

What the Mart involves

• The inaugural programme on 29 October is attended by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, and includes the inauguration of the North East Bazaar and cultural performances.
• Over 200 participants are expected, including 43 international buyers from 22 countries - among them Australia, Bhutan, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the UAE, the UK and the US.
• All eight North Eastern States - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura - will present their destinations and tourism products, along with combined regional circuits.
• Business-to-Business (B2B) sessions on 30 October will link buyers with tourism service providers from the North East.
• Technical visits cover Tawang Monastery, Jaswant Garh War Memorial, Jang Waterfall, Tawang War Memorial, Urgelling Gompa (birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama), Buddha Park, Pankang Teng Tso Lake and Shernup Village; familiarisation tours for international delegates start from Guwahati on 1 November.

Policy sessions and the ministerial meeting

• Technical sessions will discuss building a live events and concert economy in the North East (led by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and facilitating tourist access to Protected and Restricted Areas in the region (led by the Ministry of Home Affairs).
• A presentation by Royal Enfield, "Beyond Destinations: Creating Immersive Journeys in North East India", will explore experience-based tourism.
• On the sidelines, a Regional Meeting of Tourism Ministers of the North Eastern States will be held on 30 October, chaired by the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture.

Key facts for your exam

• The International Tourism Mart is the annual flagship event of the Ministry of Tourism to promote the North Eastern Region in domestic and international markets.
• The 14th edition (29-31 October 2026) is being held at Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh - the Mart returns to Tawang after 13 years, having last hosted the 2nd edition there in 2013.
• The previous (13th) edition was held in Gangtok, Sikkim, in November 2025.
• 43 international buyers from 22 countries and sellers from all eight North Eastern States are participating.
• Tawang is home to India's largest monastery (Tawang Monastery) and lies in a region where foreign tourists need a Protected Area Permit and domestic visitors an Inner Line Permit - the subject of a dedicated technical session at the Mart.

For aspirants, this event ties together several GS themes: tourism as a growth driver for the North East, the Act East Policy's connectivity and people-to-people dimension, and the regulatory framework (PAP/ILP) that balances security with tourism in border States. Expect prelims questions on the Mart's venue and organising ministry, and mains material on unlocking the North East's tourism economy.

Source: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Tourism, 28 October 2026.