Gangtok, Nov 14: The 13th International Tourism Mart (ITM) for the North East Region began its first day in Gangtok on Thursday, featuring a series of parallel programmes ahead of the formal inaugural session scheduled later in the evening.
The day included a meeting between the Ministry of Tourism and the State Tourism Departments of the North East Region at a hotel in Pangthang, Gangtok. Discussions focused on improving coordination and promoting tourism initiatives across the region.
The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Suman Billa; Joint Director, MoT, Harikishore S; Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Balbir Singh; officials from the Ministry of Tourism and State Tourism Departments of the eight North Eastern states; and tourism stakeholders.
The first session highlighted film tourism under the theme “Cinematic North East – Policy Pathway to Promote Film Shooting Destinations,” with presentations by Indian Cine Hub and Madhya Pradesh Tourism.
The second session featured Airbnb, which showcased the potential of homestay tourism to support local communities and generate income opportunities.
In the third session, Ministry of Home Affairs officials discussed Restricted Area Permit/Protected Area Permit (RAP/PAP) procedures, addressing concerns about tourist access to certain areas.
The final session included an open house discussion where state governments shared best practices and suggestions to promote tourism. Sikkim’s Principal Secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, CS Rao, along with Principal Chief Engineer cum Secretary Neeraj Pradhan, emphasized simplifying visitor procedures, improving access to tourist sites, and promoting safe and sustainable tourism growth.
The ITM, an annual event of the Ministry of Tourism, is being held from November 13 to 16, 2025, in Gangtok, Sikkim. The event includes B2B sessions, presentations, the North East Bazaar, and technical visits to key cultural sites. This year’s edition focuses on responsible tourism under the Travel for Life initiative, promoting energy efficiency, zero food waste, and reducing single-use plastics.
