Shillong: A recent report unveiled at the North East India Infrastructure Summit in Shillong identifies critical infrastructure and governance gaps as the primary barriers preventing the Northeast from becoming a global tourism hub. Although the eight states saw 12.8 million domestic visitors in 2024, they currently attract less than one percent of India's international tourists.
The study, conducted by FINER, the Build India Foundation, and IIM Shillong, argues that the region is one of India's most underutilized economic opportunities. While the area boasts immense cultural diversity and unique natural landmarks like Meghalaya’s living root bridges, tourism activity remains largely confined to major hubs such as Guwahati, Shillong, and Kaziranga.
Key bottlenecks cited include poor last-mile road connectivity, a shortage of quality accommodations in remote areas, and complex permit systems that discourage foreign travelers. To address these issues, the report proposes the creation of 25 Integrated Tourism Growth Nodes by 2047 and a unified digital permit platform.
The region’s strategic position along 5,500 kilometers of international borders offers significant potential for cross-border travel under the Act East Policy. Proposed pilot circuits include links between Guwahati and Dhaka, as well as Gangtok and Thimphu. Projects like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway could further integrate the region into Southeast Asian tourism markets.
Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who penned the report's foreword, described Northeast India as “one of the world’s best-kept secrets” and a future growth engine for the nation’s travel industry. Investing in this sector could provide much-needed employment through homestays, handicrafts, and cultural services for a region currently facing limited industrial opportunities.
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