Guwahati: The northeastern states recorded a footfall of 118.45 lakh domestic and 1.04 lakh foreign tourists in 2022, according to the provisional data from the Ministry of Tourism.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on October 21, 2016, to enhance regional air connectivity across the country from unserved and under-served airports in the country.

Airports in the North Eastern Region (NER) at Rupsi, Tezu, Tezpur, Pasighat, Jorhat, Lilabari, Shillong, Pakyong, Itanagar and Dimapur, involving 64 routes, have been operationalised under UDAN.

At present, there are 16 operational airports in NER. Additionally, Advanced Landing Ground at Ziro has also been operationalized. The Ministry of Railways has informed that in the NER during the year 2021-22, 14 new line projects covering a total length of 1,181 km have been planned/sanctioned/executed out of which, 361 km has been commissioned. 5 doubling projects covering a length of 728 kms have been planned/sanctioned/executed out of which 48 kms has been commissioned.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken up/sanctioned national highway development works of 5137 km in the NER.

These infrastructure projects are providing essential/ critical connectivity for a barrier-free environment for the growth of tourism in the NER.

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) supports infrastructure projects relating to water supply, power, connectivity in the tourism sector in the NER.

The Ministry of Development of Northeast Region through the North Eastern Council (NEC) also support tourism infrastructure development projects to promote tourism in the NER. The NEC has taken various initiatives to create a barrier free environment for growth of tourism in the NER. It includes holding consultative meetings with tourism stakeholders like North East Tourism Departments, North East Tour operators, etc.

They discussed the challenges and way forward on the development of the tourism sector in NER; a roundtable discussion on developing a framework for seamless tourist movements to North Eastern States of India organised by Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong.

MDoNER is also implementing the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) scheme.
The scheme funds infrastructure convergently, in the spirit of PM GatiShakti; supports social development projects based on felt needs of the NER; enables livelihood activities for youth and women; and fills the development gaps in various sectors. The scheme covers the tourism sector as well.

The Centre has taken the ‘Yuva Sangam’ initiative to strengthen people to people connect especially between youth belonging to NER and other States and provide an immersive experience under five broad areas — Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development), Prodyogiki (Technology) and Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect).

The Ministry of Tourism is implementing various schemes in the country including the NER such as the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits and Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) for the integrated development of the identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
Under its scheme of ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development’ it has sanctioned viewpoints and wayside amenities in the NER.

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