Once considered remote and hard to access, northeast India is quietly emerging as one of the country’s fastest-growing hospitality markets. According to a report by HVS Anarock, the region is expected to almost double its branded hotel supply by 2030, adding over 3,000 new rooms across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Tripura, and Nagaland.

Assam is set to lead this growth, with nearly 2,000 new branded rooms expected between 2025 and 2030, driven by Guwahati and other emerging tourism hubs. Arunachal Pradesh follows with 660 rooms, reflecting rising investor confidence in destinations such as Tawang and Itanagar. Sikkim has over 250 rooms in the pipeline, while Tripura plans 80 rooms in 2026 and another 100 by 2030.

Commenting on the trend, Nikhil Sharma, MD and COO (South Asia) at Radisson Hotel Group, said, “Northeast India is undergoing a remarkable transformation. With enhanced infrastructure, sustainable tourism models, and strong public-private collaboration, the region is fast emerging as one of South Asia’s most promising hospitality frontiers.”

Radisson currently operates two hotels in Guwahati and Imphal, with an additional two hotels under development in Siliguri, comprising 254 keys.

Despite the anticipated growth, the region will still account for less than 3% of India’s total branded hotel supply, highlighting untapped potential especially in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, where no new branded hotel projects are currently underway. Investor attention remains heavily focused on Assam, and supply may lag in other high-potential areas without a more balanced regional investment approach.

As of June 2025, the Northeast had over 3,400 branded hotel keys, representing just 1.7% of India’s total 202,000 branded rooms. Sikkim and Assam account for nearly 68% of the region’s existing supply, with Gangtok and Guwahati contributing over half of the branded inventory.

Tourism indicators are encouraging: air traffic in the region hit a record 11.2 million passengers last year, and railway and highway projects are accelerating, improving connectivity. However, regulatory complexities continue to limit private investment. The report recommends establishing a harmonised tourism investment framework across all eight states and creating a single-window clearance system to facilitate hotel and tourism development.

With enhanced infrastructure, rising investor confidence, and growing domestic travel, northeast India is steadily emerging as a key frontier for branded hospitality in India.