In a landmark move to reimagine and harness the full potential of tourism in Northeast India, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday chaired the first meeting of the High-Level Task Force on Tourism. The meeting brought together key regional and central stakeholders, including Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, and top officials from both state and central governments.
The agenda of the meeting centred on laying the groundwork for a unified framework that will unlock the tourism potential of the region through coordination, strategy, and sustainable growth. “Tourists from the rest of India and globally identify the Northeast region as ‘one’, and it is imperative that the states work in close coordination to facilitate tourism,” said Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, underlining the necessity of a collaborative regional approach.
He praised the initiative taken by the DoNER Ministry to constitute the Task Force and described it as a “landmark” intervention that would accelerate tourism-led development across the region. He also highlighted the Northeast’s progressive industrial policies and noted that the region is paving the way for industrial growth in tandem with tourism.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, addressing the gathering, emphasized the region’s untapped potential, stating, “The region can leverage its rich heritage and natural beauty to drive sustainable development, boost local economies and generate employment.” He proposed adopting lessons from the tourism models of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations to build a robust and localized tourism strategy for Northeast India.
The Task Force, constituted by the Ministry of DoNER in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and headed by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, has been entrusted with the responsibility to conduct an in-depth study of the region’s tourism landscape, recommend key interventions, identify strategic gaps, and chart a comprehensive roadmap for the sector’s future.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha highlighted state-specific efforts, including the promotion of unique Northeastern cuisines as a draw for tourists. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang elaborated on his state’s successful tourism interventions and called for consistent marketing and branding efforts to position the Northeast as a distinct and attractive tourism destination. He also stressed the importance of inter-state collaboration to enhance the collective appeal of the region.
The formation of the Task Force follows the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC), held in November 2024 in Agartala, Tripura. As part of its actionable outcomes, one tourism circuit will be identified in each of the eight Northeastern states. This targeted intervention aims to draw both domestic and international tourists, amplifying the region’s visibility and economic vitality through tourism.