Industry Odisha Bureau, Oct 28: Tawang will host the 14th International Tourism Mart (ITM) from October 29 to 31. The Arunachal Pradesh town last hosted the event in 2013, during its second edition. The Union Tourism Ministry is organising the mart with Arunachal Pradesh and other northeastern states. Hotel Vivanta in Tawang will serve as the venue for the three-day event.
Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will attend the opening on October 29. Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi and Chief Minister Pema Khandu will join him. The opening day will feature the launch of the North East Bazaar and cultural shows.
Over 200 buyers and sellers from India and abroad are expected to attend. The list includes 43 international buyers from 22 countries. Key source markets include the US, the UK, Japan, Germany, France and Australia. Buyers from Southeast Asia, the UAE, Russia, Bhutan and Sri Lanka will also participate.
The annual flagship event promotes the Northeast in domestic and global markets. It links tour operators, entrepreneurs, officials and media with tourism businesses from the region.
All eight northeastern states will present their destinations and tourism products. These include Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The states will also pitch joint circuits covering the wider region.
Business-to-business (B2B) meetings are scheduled for October 30. These sessions will match global and domestic buyers with local service providers. The aim is to build partnerships, develop new products and widen market access.
Technical sessions will examine key issues in the region’s tourism development. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will lead a session on live events and concerts. The Ministry of Home Affairs will discuss tourist access to Protected and Restricted Areas. Royal Enfield will present on creating immersive travel journeys across North East India.
The North East Bazaar will display traditional crafts, handlooms, textiles and cultural heritage. Delegates will also sample regional cuisines and watch cultural performances from all eight states.
Participants will tour key landmarks in and around Tawang. The itinerary covers Tawang Monastery, Jaswant Garh War Memorial and Jang Waterfall. Tawang War Memorial, Buddha Park, PTSO Lake and Shernup Village are also included. Delegates will visit Urgelling Gompa, the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama. The visits will offer first-hand exposure to the region’s spiritual, natural and rural attractions. Familiarisation tours for foreign delegates will begin from Guwahati on November 1.
Shekhawat will chair a regional meeting of northeastern tourism ministers on October 30. The meeting will focus on boosting tourism and deepening cooperation among the states.
Gangtok in Sikkim hosted the previous edition in November 2025.
