Aizawl: Mizoram is seeking to promote year-round tourism, particularly during winter, by linking its cultural festivals, natural attractions and local enterprises with wider travel markets.The three-day Mizoram travel fest, organised jointly by the state tourism department and the Union tourism ministry, opened in Aizawl on Tuesday. The event brings together tour operators, homestay associations, culinary professionals and other tourism stakeholders to explore partnerships and promote the state as a travel destination.Inaugurating the programme, tourism minister Lalnghinglova Hmar said tourism must generate employment and income for local communities while protecting Mizoram’s culture and natural environment.“Tourism is not simply about bringing visitors into Mizoram. It is also about ensuring that the benefits reach the people who make Mizoram special,” he said.Mizoram recorded more than 6.7 lakh visitors between January and August this year, a 51% increase over the corresponding period in 2025. Tourist arrivals have also risen by around 97% between 2024 and 2025. Improved connectivity, particularly after the opening of the Bairabi-Sairang railway line in September last year, has strengthened the state’s tourism prospects.Nearly Rs 680 crore in tourism investment has been mobilised since 2023, including 11 major projects sanctioned at a total cost of Rs 608.38 crore. These include tourist facilities and attractions worth Rs 250 crore, a Rs 127-crore PM Ekta Mall, a Rs 99.71-crore conference centre at Thingsulthliah and a Rs 34.50-crore ropeway project at Thenzawl-Buangpui.Mizoram aims to attract 12 lakh tourists annually by 2030 and 20 lakh by 2047. Its long-term plans include developing 10 Culture, Adventure and Nature tourism circuits connecting 40 destinations by 2047.The festival’s opening-day discussions covered eco-tourism, community-based tourism, homestays, adventure activities, connectivity and destination promotion. Participants include the association of tour operators in Mizoram, the Indian Association of Tour Operators, Homestays of India and the Mizoram Culinary Association.The second day will focus on investment opportunities and sustainable tourism development, with business-to-business meetings planned among tour operators, accommodation providers, restaurants and other tourism service providers.The Leitlangpui music festival will be held in Lunglei from November 11 to 13, while Aizawl’s Winter Festival is scheduled for December 15 to 23. The Hnahsin Kut, or Cosmos Festival, in Champhai will continue until October 16.
