New Delhi, December 2: Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia today participated in the 4th High-Level Task Force (HLTF) Meeting on Tourism, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to transforming the North East into a globally competitive tourism destination.
The meeting, convened by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, brought together key leaders including Tripura Chief Minister 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 the outcomes of earlier HLTF sessions, the fourth meeting marked a decisive step toward an integrated tourism blueprint for the region - one aimed at resolving bottlenecks, defining actionable priorities, and accelerating coordinated execution across states.
Deliberations focused on unlocking the region’s vast untapped tourism potential through:
• Improved multimodal and last-mile connectivity
• World-class infrastructure and iconic destination development
• Expansion of adventure, eco-tourism, and culturally rooted tourism experiences
• Skill development, service standardisation, and capacity-building to support local employment
• Creation of globally marketable tourism products showcasing the region’s heritage, nature and traditions
Participants also underscored the need for unified branding of North East India as a premium destination, supported by predictable policies and large-scale private investment.
Scindia Emphasises Connectivity, Sustainability & Cultural Showcasing
Calling the North East "Bharat’s cultural and natural powerhouse," Scindia urged sharper focus on last-mile connectivity, sustainability-driven planning, and long-term value creation for local communities.
He also highlighted the importance of an annual regional festival calendar to spotlight the cultural richness of the North East and boost year-round tourism appeal.
The meeting reiterated that seamless inter-state coordination is essential for creating connected tourist circuits and curated experiences across the region.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of DoNER constituted eight High-Level Task Forces, each led by a North Eastern Chief Minister alongside the Union DoNER Minister and three additional Chief Ministers as members. The tourism-focused HLTF has emerged as one of the most active, with constructive participation from all states.
Scindia praised the quality of the presentations and urged the Meghalaya government to submit the final HLTF report after incorporating all inputs and feedback.
With tourism seen as a key economic driver for the region, the strengthened roadmap marks a significant move toward positioning North East India as a world-class tourism frontier.
