The Nagaland government has decided to appeal to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to revoke the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime in the state. This decision was made during a cabinet meeting held on Monday at the Chief Minister’s residence, as announced by State Environment Minister C. L. John.

The PAP system requires foreign nationals to obtain special permits to visit certain parts of India, including regions in the northeastern states. The government’s appeal comes after noting the success of the 2024 Hornbill Festival, which attracted over 2,000 foreign visitors. A total of 205,968 people, including 2,527 foreign nationals, attended the event at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama.

The PAP was originally introduced in the 1960s for security reasons but was lifted in December 2021, easing access to Nagaland and other northeastern states. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs reinstated the PAP regime in December 2024 for Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram. The Nagaland government is now seeking the removal of these restrictions to encourage tourism and international participation in the state.