Arunachal Pradesh has taken a significant leap in reimagining its tourism landscape with the launch of a new tourism policy and brand identity, aimed at positioning the state as a leading global travel destination. The initiative places a strong emphasis on sustainable development, cultural preservation, community empowerment, and investment facilitation.

The announcement was made in New Delhi by Tourism Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona, who described the policy as a blueprint to make Arunachal Pradesh a world-class destination. “We anticipate a significant rise in both domestic and international visitors, with a tenfold increase in foreign tourist arrivals,” he said.

The policy promotes experiential tourism, covering areas like farm stays, wine tourism, wellness retreats, adventure sports, ecotourism, film tourism, and tribal and border tourism. To ensure locals are at the heart of this transformation, the state will partner with premier institutions such as IITTM and IHM for skill development and training.

Mopi Mihu, MLA and Advisor to the Tourism Minister, highlighted the importance of community upliftment. “We will conduct skill gap assessments and offer targeted training to ensure that local communities benefit directly from the growing tourism sector,” he stated.

On the investment front, Ranphoa Ngowa, Secretary, Department of Tourism, shared plans to establish district-level land banks and a dedicated facilitation cell to offer single-window support for tourism-related projects. Collaborations with Invest India are also underway to draw national and international investors.

Emphasising the new brand identity, Manjunath R, IAS, Director of the Department of Tourism, described Arunachal Pradesh as a mosaic of tribal cultures and unspoiled landscapes. “Today’s travellers seek experiences that are authentic and transformative. This identity is our invitation to explore the pristine, untarnished, and enriching journey into India’s final frontier,” he said.

The state has already witnessed a massive upswing in tourism, with foreign tourist arrivals up by 300% and domestic travel growing by nearly 369% in 2023. With its refreshed image and clear strategy, Arunachal Pradesh is all set to become a benchmark for sustainable and immersive tourism in India.