New Delhi, December 2: Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, on Tuesday participated in the fourth meeting of the High-Level Task Force (HLTF) on Tourism, reiterating the Centre’s commitment to transforming North East India into a globally competitive and sustainable tourism destination.
The meeting, convened by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, brought together key policymakers and stakeholders from across the region, including Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Sikkim Tourism Minister Tshering T. Bhutia, Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona, and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, M.R. Synrem. The deliberations focused on accelerating tourism-led economic growth and creating a unified roadmap for the development of the region’s tourism sector.
Building upon the outcomes of previous HLTF meetings, the fourth session marked an important step toward formulating a comprehensive and integrated tourism strategy for the Northeast. Participants reviewed existing challenges, identified critical infrastructure gaps and discussed actionable measures to unlock the region’s vast tourism potential.
A major focus of the meeting was improving multimodal and last-mile connectivity to make tourist destinations more accessible. Members stressed that better road, rail and air connectivity, along with improved transport links to remote attractions, would be crucial in enhancing visitor experiences and increasing tourist footfall.
Discussions also highlighted the need for world-class tourism infrastructure, including the development of iconic destinations, improved visitor amenities and sustainable tourism facilities. Special emphasis was placed on promoting adventure tourism, eco-tourism and culturally rooted tourism experiences that reflect the unique identity and heritage of the Northeast.
The task force also deliberated on skill development and capacity-building initiatives aimed at creating employment opportunities for local communities. Participants emphasized the importance of service standardisation, hospitality training and entrepreneurship development to ensure that tourism growth translates into long-term economic benefits for residents.
Another key proposal was the creation of globally marketable tourism products showcasing the region’s rich cultural traditions, biodiversity, festivals and indigenous heritage. Members agreed that a unified branding strategy for North East India would help position the region as a premium travel destination in domestic and international markets.
Addressing the meeting, Scindia described the Northeast as “Bharat’s cultural and natural powerhouse” and called for greater focus on sustainability-driven planning and long-term value creation. He stressed that tourism development must benefit local communities while preserving the region’s ecological and cultural assets.
The Union Minister also proposed the creation of an annual regional festival calendar to showcase the Northeast’s diverse cultural traditions and attract visitors throughout the year. Such an initiative, he said, would help strengthen the region’s tourism appeal and encourage longer visitor stays.
Participants agreed that stronger inter-state coordination is essential for developing seamless tourist circuits and curated travel experiences across the Northeast. Collaborative planning, they noted, would allow states to leverage their collective strengths and offer integrated tourism packages.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of DoNER constituted eight High-Level Task Forces, each led by a Chief Minister from the Northeast along with the Union DoNER Minister and three other Chief Ministers as members. Among these, the tourism-focused task force has emerged as one of the most active and productive platforms for regional collaboration.
Commending the quality of presentations and discussions, Scindia urged the Meghalaya government to incorporate the suggestions received and submit the final HLTF report at the earliest. He expressed confidence that the recommendations would serve as a strong foundation for future tourism policies and investments.
With tourism increasingly viewed as a key driver of economic growth, employment generation and cultural promotion, the roadmap emerging from the fourth HLTF meeting is expected to play a pivotal role in positioning North East India as a world-class tourism frontier and one of the country’s most dynamic travel destinations.
