GANGTOK, (IPR): The 13th International Tourism Mart (ITM) for the North East Region commenced in Gangtok on Friday, featuring a range of parallel programs prior to the formal inaugural session scheduled for later in the evening. The event included a crucial meeting between the Ministry of Tourism and the state tourism departments from the North East Region held at a local hotel in Pangthang. The focus of this meeting was to enhance coordination and bolster tourism initiatives across the region.
Key attendees included Suman Billa, additional secretary and director general of the Ministry of Tourism, along with Harikishore S, joint director of MoT, and Balbir Singh, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Representatives from the Tourism Ministry, the state tourism departments of the eight North Eastern states, and various tourism stakeholders were also present.
The first session addressed film tourism, themed “Cinematic North East – Policy Pathway to Promote Film Shooting Destinations.” Indian Cine Hub presented valuable insights, followed by a briefing from Madhya Pradesh Tourism regarding their Film Tourism Policy and its advantages.
The second session featured a presentation from AirBnB on homestays, emphasizing the positive impact of homestay tourism on local communities and income generation. The third session included discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the Restricted Area Permit/Protected Area Permit (RAP/PAP), aiming to clarify procedures and address concerns about tourist access to certain areas in the region.
Subsequently, the fourth session turned into an open house discussion where state governments from the North East shared insights on best practices and suggestions for enhancing tourism. CS Rao, principal secretary of the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department in Sikkim, and Neeraj Pradhan, principal chief engineer, discussed potential ways to simplify visitor procedures, improve access to significant tourist locations, and ensure safe, sustainable growth.
The ITM serves as an annual platform organized by the Ministry of Tourism to showcase the tourism potential of India’s North Eastern Region. This year’s event runs from November 13th to 16th in Gangtok, Sikkim, and will feature B2B sessions, presentations, the North East Bazaar, and visits to culturally significant sites.
The focus this year is on responsible tourism through the ‘Travel for Life’ initiative, promoting energy efficiency, minimizing food waste, and reducing single-use plastics.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/itm-2025-starts-with-key-discussions-on-ne-tourism
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