The Government of Arunachal Pradesh officially launched its new tourism policy on April 2, with a vision to position the north-eastern state as a world-class tourism destination while preserving its pristine landscapes, rich tribal culture, and unique biodiversity. The policy also aims to promote sustainable tourism and encourage community empowerment.
Alongside this policy, the state has also revealed a new logo and brand identity – Arunachal: Beyond Myths and Mountains.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Manjunath R, director of the department of tourism, government of Arunachal Pradesh, said: “The new tourism policy places a significant emphasis on experiential tourism with key areas of focus including farm tourism, spiritual tourism, adventure tourism, eco-tourism, tribal tourism and border tourism. Arunachal Pradesh, which shares borders with Tibet, Bhutan and Myanmar as well as Indian states Assam and Nagaland offers vast opportunities for border tourism. Adventure enthusiasts can explore a range of activities, from hiking and mountain terrain biking to jungle safaris.”
A major focus of the policy is improving infrastructure and accessibility. The government is prioritising upgrades to road and air connectivity, wayside amenities, transport facilities and tourist signage to enhance visitor experiences. Additionally, the state aims to expand its accommodation capacity by 50 per cent.
Currently, Arunachal Pradesh has 793 registered home stays and 237 registered hotels, and the department of tourism is in talks to collaborate with major aggregators like Airbnb and MakeMyTrip to promote its home stays and farm stays in both domestic and international markets.
The state is also looking to learn from global best practices in ecotourism.
“We are planning to visit Costa Rica next month to study its model for promoting biodiversity. Arunachal Pradesh boasts 14 wildlife sanctuaries, three tiger reserves, four national parks and one biosphere reserve. We are also collaborating with overseas tour operators to market our diverse tourism products and experiences internationally,” stated Pasang Dorjee Sona, minister for tourism, government of Arunachal Pradesh.
The tourism sector in Arunachal Pradesh has seen impressive growth in recent years. In 2023, foreign tourist arrivals surged by 300 per cent to 4,496 visitors, while domestic tourist footfalls saw a 368.91 per cent increase, reaching 1.04 million compared to the previous year.
With the introduction of the new tourism policy, the state aims to double domestic tourist arrivals and increase inbound tourism tenfold.
