TravTalk India Online Magazine
The 11th International Tourism Mart in Shillong, Meghalaya, aimed to unite stakeholders, showcasing Northeast region’s rich cultural heritage and biodiversity.
Janice Alyosius
The 11th edition of the International Tourism Mart (ITM), organised in Shillong (Meghalaya) from 21-23 November, showcased the Northeast’s tourism potential, rich biodiversity, unique heritage, and cultural offerings, besides providing an interactive platform for the domestic, as well as international stakeholders.Inaugurating the mart, Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State for Tourism, highlighted Meghalaya’s potential in adventure and eco-tourism and emphasized on ITM’s role in facilitating interaction among stakeholders. “Northeast India has emerged as a sought-after destination for adventure, culture, and nature enthusiasts,” he said.
V Vidyavathi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, stressed on the mart’s goal of showcasing the region’s untapped potential to foster sustainable tourism. “We have 28 international delegations from 18 countries today. We also have 50 buyers from different parts of the country. These include tourism professionals, media opinion makers, tour operators, and participants from the hospitality industry as well. This demonstrates a growing interest to travel to the unexplored destinations of the country,” she said.
Conrad K Sangma, CM, Meghalaya, thanked Naik for selecting Shillong for the 11th ITM. “The kind of economic growth that we are witnessing in the Northeast is unprecedented. There is a strong and special focus to ensure that the Northeastern states progress in unison with rest of the country,” he said.
