Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh will take center stage as it hosts the 14th edition of the International Tourism Mart from October 27 to November 1, 2026
Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is set to host the 14th edition of the International Tourism Mart from 27 October to 1 November, 2026, bringing together tourism stakeholders and delegates from India and several countries.
Organised jointly by the Union Ministry of Tourism and the Department of Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, the international tourism event is expected to see participation from delegates representing around 27 countries. The annual event aims to showcase the tourism potential of India’s North-Eastern region and facilitate interactions among tourism businesses, government agencies, buyers, sellers and the international travel trade.
As per the X account of the Ministry of Tourism, tour operators and influencers from countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Nepal, Germany, France, and Russia have been invited.
The event marks the return of the International Tourism Mart to Tawang after more than a decade; the district last hosted it in 2013. According to the Arunachal Pradesh Department of Information and Public Relations, the mart is expected to open new avenues for tourism promotion, investment and sustainable economic development in Arunachal Pradesh.
Last year, the event was held in Sikkim, with government representatives and tourism industry stakeholders from more than 19 countries taking part. The International Tourism Mart is designed to promote the region as a destination for domestic and international visitors while creating opportunities for business-to-business partnerships and investment.
Tawang venue draws attention
While the International Tourism Mart is an annual event, its decision to hold the 2026 edition in Tawang has attracted particular attention among the tourism industry as well as triggering online debates because of its proximity to the India-China border.
Tawang has long been a sensitive point in the India-China boundary dispute. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of what it refers to as ‘Zangnan’ or South Tibet, while India maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country.
The decision to choose Tawang as the venue for this event is also seen as a political statement, noting that India-China border tension has also impacted both sides’ tourism ties at multiple levels in past.
However, it is interesting to note that after years of limited mobility and disrupted connectivity, tourism between India and China is already showing some signs of revival. The resumption of visa services and direct air links, coupled with the reopening of pilgrimage routes and a wider range of travel options, is creating renewed opportunities for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
A key turning point came last year when India resumed issuing visas to Chinese travellers on 24 July, 2025, including the reintroduction of e-visas after a hiatus of nearly five years. The move coincided with the restoration of air connectivity between the two countries, following the suspension of flights during the pandemic and subsequent geopolitical tensions.
Moreover, Air India has also moved to restore non-stop services to mainland China, including flights to Shanghai from February 2026, providing travellers with additional connectivity between the two markets. Together, these developments mark a gradual reopening of the India-China travel corridor, with tourism, pilgrimage and business travel emerging as important avenues for renewed cross-border mobility.
At this juncture, it is vital to assess whether the choice of venue will catalyse the boost in regional tourism without straining India–China relations, or instead intensify existing tensions and undermine tourism ties between the two countries.
