The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India’s 11th International Tourism Mart is all set to open. To be held from November 21 to 23, 2023, this edition is set against the picturesque backdrop of Shillong, Meghalaya and marks a significant shift as it unfolds as a ‘Green Event,’ in line with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change’s Mission LiFE.
Central to this endeavour, said the ministry, is a commitment to sustainability. The Mart will take a stance against Single-Use Plastics (SUP) and is adopting digital and paperless strategies, besides focusing on a tree plantation drive.
Further, in order to take forward the Travel for LiFE, a sectoral programme initiated by the Ministry of Tourism, under the aegis of Mission LiFE, the Ministry is working with all the tourism stakeholders including the State Governments, Industry, destinations and tourists. The Travel for LiFE Program is envisaged to position India as a leader in promoting sustainable and responsible tourism and using tourism as a vehicle for achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The International Tourism Mart is an annual event held by the Ministry in one of the North Eastern States on rotation basis, with an objective to provide a bigger platform to the North Eastern stakeholders to interact with their counterparts from both within the country and overseas markets as well as to create awareness about the tourism potential of North East Region (NER).
The event is scheduled to be inaugurated by Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DoNER, G. Kishan Reddy and will be attended by North-Eastern Tourism Ministers, Seniors Officials of North-Eastern States, State Governments and heads of the Tourism & Hospitality Associations.
The earlier editions of this Mart have been held in Guwahati, Tawang, Shillong, Gangtok, Agartala, Imphal, Kohima and Aizwal. Shillong will be hosting this event for the second time, since its inception. An approximate number of 100 delegates including domestic and international, would be participating in the event.
The event will include a session dedicated to business meetings between local North Eastern stakeholders and domestic and international buyers. The eight North Eastern States would present the updates on their new destinations as well as new opportunities in their states. Knowledge sessions and panel discussions including both the Government and private sectors would deliberate on the advances and development of connectivity in the region.
During the inaugural Tourism Investors Meet, the state has been buoyed by investment proposals totaling INR 15,116.65 crore. The Chief Minister said that a Single Window Clearance System has been created to assist tourism investors and a Facilitation Centre set up to follow up on the preliminary deliberations at the meet. The state is providing investment subsidies and incentives and encouraging PPPs in the tourism sector.
The air connectivity in the North East has increased tremendously in the last few years. At present, there are more than 16 airports providing accessibility to tourist destinations in the North East Region. As part of the collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Civil Aviation under RCS UDAN, 53 tourism routes have become operational of which 10 routes are exclusively for North East Region. The three vistadome trains operating in North East region have also majorly contributed to not only connectivity but also in enhancing its tourism appeal.
Development of tourism infrastructure and promotion in NER
One of the priorities of the Ministry of Tourism has also been the development of tourism infrastructure and tourism promotion activities in the North East Region. As per the MoT data, sixteen projects have been sanctioned in the North East States under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for a total amount of INR 1309 crore.
A total of 15 tourist destinations are being taken up in the North East for development under the revamped Swadesh Darshan Scheme 2.0 with an objective to develop sustainable and responsible destinations with a tourist and destination-centric approach.
Further, the Ministry of Tourism under the PRASHAD Scheme has sanctioned a total of eight projects for an amount of INR 256.45 crore for the integrated development of identified pilgrimage destinations in the North East states.
The Ministry of Tourism has also sanctioned the development of 22 viewpoints at the cost of INR 44.44 crore to provide world-class infrastructure and related services for the highway network viz, commercial spaces, logistic parks, traveler facilities such as wayside amenities (WSA) in the North East Region. Many of the projects sanctioned under SD 1.0 and PRASHAD Schemes have already been completed and dedicated to the nation, the data mentioned.
