TravTalk India Online Magazine
With significant improvement in the North-East’s infrastructure, travel to the region has become easy. Moreover, both governments and private entities have been promoting the region for M!CE and weddings. TRAVTALK speaks to experts to get a better picture.
Hazel Jain
Increased attention from the Union government, including enhanced air connectivity, has played a significant role in boosting tourism in the North-East region. Hotels in the region see rise in not only leisure business, but also a slight increase in M!CE queries. K Mohanchandran, Senior Vice President (Operations – East & North-East India), IHCL, says his team frequently receives inquiries from the M!CE and wedding segments from various parts of India. “The demand is robust, and there is high interest in the region overall. We receive inquiries from Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, as well as Bihar and Jharkhand. These are usually for our hotels in Guwahati and Darjeeling, and we are seeing encouraging early interest extending to our other hotels in the region as well,” he says.
However, Mohanchandran adds, the biggest challenge that hotels still face in this region is the weather. “Both road and air connectivity can be disrupted due to adverse weather conditions. Therefore, the development of all-weather airports in key cities could be a game-changer,” he opines. IHCL currently operates nine hotels across the region under various brands, along with three bungalows under amã Stays & Trails brand.
Shreya Barbara, Chief Operating Officer, Landscape Safari, is also receiving queries from agents in metros. “I am more into B2B, and we get queries from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Pune, Nagpur, and Hyderabad to name a few for weddings and M!CE. Greater awareness about North-East as a destination is a prime reason for the rise in demand. State tourism boards, Ministry of Tourism and local tour operators have put in a lot of effort to promote the region. Also, significant development in infrastructure has spread positive word of mouth,” she says.
Unfortunately, flight connectivity and flight rates are a huge challenge she faces. “Connectivity to many sectors have been withdrawn and airfares are very high compared to even international destinations, especially South-East Asia. If this concern is given a serious thought, a lot more tourist footfall can be expected,” Barbara adds.
Complex socio-political situation
Weddings are hard to come by, says E Banlumlang Blah, Chief Executive Officer, Clara Voyages, & President of Confederation of Tourism Industries, Meghalaya. “As of now, we do not get inquiries for weddings as most of the planning is done by planners from the home state. One of the most pressing issues that continues to pose a challenge for the region is the complex socio-political situation, including ethnic tensions. Despite efforts to promote peace and development, several states in the North-East still grapple with various forms of ethnic conflicts, which hinder progress and stability in the region,” he rues.
Nevertheless, the Modi government’s emphasis on infrastructure development has enhanced accessibility to the North-East. Philip Logan, Chief Operating Officer of Royal Orchid Hotels, says, “Demand for North-East India has seen a notable increase in the last couple of years. This increase in the demand can be attributed to several factors. We see enhanced infrastructure development. There is also increased promotion and marketing efforts by tourism authorities. As a result, there is growing interest among travellers for offbeat destinations and immersive cultural experiences.”
The group has two properties in the North-East: Regenta Inn Gangtok (35 keys) and Regenta Resort Dharamshala (22 keys).
Strong air connectivity and business focused policies from the government has flourished business in the region for Mayfair SpringValley in Guwahati. Akash Gupta, General Manager, Mayfair SpringValley, says, “It has opened doors for more business and job opportunities. Easy access to tourist places, development of tourist spots, and improved infrastructure have played a vital role in increasing demand for the hospitality industry here. The North-East is on the right track and has attracted major hospitality giants to set up their businesses successfully here. But there is a lot more desired on this front, as the region is still lagging behind in hiring and retaining skilled manpower. We expect more quality management institutes to come up and fulfil this requirement.”
