The meeting reiterated that seamless inter-state coordination is crucial for establishing connected tourist circuits and curated visitor experiences across the North East.
Guwahati: Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, on Tuesday, participated in the 4th High-Level Task Force (HLTF) Meeting on Tourism held in New Delhi, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to transforming North East India into a globally competitive tourism destination.
The meeting, convened by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, brought together key leaders, including Tripura CM Manik Saha, Sikkim Tourism Minister Tshering T. Bhutia, Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona, and M.R. Synrem, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism.
Building on outcomes from previous HLTF sessions, the fourth meeting focused on creating an integrated tourism blueprint for the region, aimed at eliminating bottlenecks, defining actionable priorities, and ensuring coordinated implementation across states.
Discussions highlighted strategies to unlock North East India’s untapped tourism potential, including:
Enhancing multimodal and last-mile connectivity
Developing world-class infrastructure and iconic destinations
Expanding adventure, eco-tourism, and culturally rooted experiences
Fostering skill development, standardised service, and local employment opportunities
Designing globally marketable tourism products that showcase the region’s heritage, natural beauty, and traditions
Participants also emphasised the importance of a unified branding strategy for North East India as a premium tourism destination, supported by predictable policies and large-scale private investment.
Calling the North East “Bharat’s cultural and natural powerhouse,” Scindia stressed the need for last-mile connectivity, sustainability-focused planning, and long-term value creation for local communities. He proposed an annual regional festival calendar to showcase the cultural richness of the region and boost year-round tourism.
The meeting reiterated that seamless inter-state coordination is crucial for establishing connected tourist circuits and curated visitor experiences across the North East.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of DoNER established eight High-Level Task Forces, each led by a North Eastern Chief Minister with support from the Union DoNER Minister and three additional Chief Ministers. The tourism-focused HLTF has emerged as one of the most active, with constructive engagement from all states.
Scindia praised the presentations during the session and asked the Meghalaya government to submit the final HLTF report after integrating all feedback. With tourism positioned as a key economic driver, the strengthened roadmap represents a major step toward establishing North East India as a world-class tourism frontier.
