Northeast India: Undiscovered Travel Gem

Northeast India's tourism is booming, with tourist footfall doubling in FY 2024-25. States like Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim saw growth exceeding 100%. This surge follows improvements in air connectivity, roads, and airports, making previously remote destinations accessible. However, the region accounted for just 0.43% of domestic and 1.17% of foreign tourist visits in 2024, highlighting its untapped potential. Poor transport, weak marketing, and safety concerns have historically limited growth. Insurgency, floods, and landslides also pose ongoing challenges. Ecotourism is a key focus, emphasizing sustainability, community engagement, and minimal environmental impact. Many initiatives are managed by locals, ensuring tourism revenue benefits villages and promotes conservation. The region's diverse ecosystems and cultural traditions offer authentic, eco-conscious travel experiences. OTT series are also catalyzing a tourism boom, with flight bookings to cities like Imphal and Dimapur seeing a notable increase by 2025. This highlights the power of storytelling in influencing travel choices and sparking curiosity about lesser-explored destinations. Investments are expected to reach USD 1 billion by 2028, with the industry projected to reach nearly USD 60 billion in the same period. Branded hotel capacity is set to nearly double by 2030, with over 3,000 new rooms in the pipeline.