With tourist arrivals rising 51%, the festival brings national tourism stakeholders, tour operators, homestay networks and culinary professionals together to transform Mizoram’s culture, adventure and natural landscapes into sustainable economic opportunities for local communities

Aizawl, October 13, 2026: A celebration of Mizo culture, cuisine and its serene landscapes, Mizoram Travel Fest 2026 opened in Aizawl on Tuesday, bringing together national tourism stakeholders to shape the state’s next phase of tourism-led growth. With rising visitor numbers and expanding investment, Mizoram is seeking to transform its appeal into a year-round tourism economy while positioning itself as India’s “Winter Capital”.

Organised by the Tourism Department, Government of Mizoram, and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the three-day festival brings together tour operators, accommodation providers, homestay associations, culinary professionals and industry representatives to forge partnerships and develop culture-, adventure- and nature-based tourism.

Pu Lalnghinglova Hmar, Hon’ble Tourism Minister, Government of Mizoram, was the Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony. A special presentation on Mizo cuisine as a tourism experience set the tone for the festival, highlighting the role of local food and cultural identity in creating distinctive travel experiences.

Held under the theme “Building Mizoram’s Tourism Future Partnerships for Culture, Adventure, and Nature”, deliberations on Day-1 brought together diverse perspectives on CAN (Culture, Adventure and Nature) with participants ranging from Tourism Service Providers, students and key dignitaries across diverse sectors.

From rising arrivals to wider economic opportunity

Mizoram recorded more than 6.7 lakh visitors between January and August 2026, marking a 51% increase over the corresponding period in 2025. Tourist arrivals had also grown by approximately 97% between 2024 and 2025. Improved connectivity, particularly following the inauguration of the Bairabi–Sairang railway line in September 2025, has strengthened the state’s tourism prospects.

The challenge now is to encourage longer stays, introduce visitors to destinations beyond Aizawl and ensure that tourism spending creates opportunities for local enterprises.

Addressing the gathering, Pu Lalnghinglova Hmar emphasised that tourism must generate livelihoods while protecting the traditions and natural beauty that distinguish Mizoram.“For us, tourism is not simply about bringing visitors into Mizoram. It is also about ensuring that the benefits reach the people who make Mizoram special. We want tourism to create opportunities for our communities, generate livelihoods and encourage people to take pride in their own culture. We welcome visitors, as well as investment and enterprise in tourism. But we want this growth to be responsible and sustainable,” the Minister said.

Nearly ₹680 crore in tourism investment has been mobilised since 2023, including 11 major projects sanctioned with an outlay of ₹608.38 crore. These include a ₹250-crore initiative to develop iconic tourist facilities and attractions, the ₹127-crore PM Ekta Mall, a ₹99.71-crore conference centre at Thingsulthliah and a ₹34.50-crore aerial ropeway and associated infrastructure project at Thenzawl–Buangpui.

Mizoram’s longer-term vision includes 12 lakh tourist arrivals by 2030 and 20 lakh by 2047, alongside the expansion of accommodation capacity and development of 10 Culture, Adventure and Nature (CAN) tourism circuits connecting 40 destinations by 2047.

National partnerships, local experiences

The opening-day conference, “Building Mizoram’s Tourism Future: Partnerships for Culture, Adventure, and Nature”, brought industry perspectives into discussions on eco-tourism, community-based tourism, homestays, adventure circuits, connectivity and destination branding.

Participants include the Association of Tour Operators in Mizoram (ATOM), the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Homestays of India, the Mizoram Culinary Association and representatives of national tourism institutions.

The central objective is to connect Mizoram’s destinations with wider travel markets. Tour operators can develop itineraries beyond Aizawl; homestays can offer visitors a closer experience of local life; culinary professionals can showcase Mizo cuisine; and guides, artisans, transport providers and community enterprises can help ensure that tourism expenditure reaches local households.

Notably, the Mizoram Tourism Conclave on Day-2 will focus on investment opportunities and recommendations for sustainable tourism development. A dedicated business-to-business exchange will connect accommodation providers, restaurateurs, tour operators and other tourism service providers to encourage collaboration and new partnerships.

Putting communities and responsible tourism at the heart

The Tourism Adopted Villages Initiative covers 40 Assembly constituencies, with one village adopted by each MLA for tourism-led development. Under the Bana Kaih (Handholding) Homestay Scheme and PM-JUGA, 199 community homestays are being developed, with assistance of up to ₹5 lakh for eligible beneficiaries. The Bana Kaih Scheme also offers eligible tourism enterprises interest-free, collateral-free loans of up to ₹20 lakh.

The state has 1,542 registered Tourism Service Providers and has trained 124 youths as tourist guides. Responsible tourism is another priority, with child-safe tourism consultations conducted in September alongside the Mizoram State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the Central Young Mizo Association and tourism service providers. Guided by the vision of the Department of Tourism, Government of Mizoram, the state is working to build a tourism economy that welcomes investment, creates livelihoods and places local communities at its heart.

Mizoram’s ‘Winter Capital’ vision

A distinctive strand of the state’s tourism ambition is to position Mizoram as India’s “Winter Capital” through a flagship Winter Festival and a calendar of seasonal experiences.

Planned offerings include music and cultural programmes, food and craft fairs, flower showcases, agro-tourism, sports, adventure activities and village-hosted celebrations. Mizoram’s Christmas traditions including community feasts, choirs, carol singing, parades and illuminated towns and churches, offer the foundation for a distinctive winter tourism proposition.

The upcoming calendar includes the Leitlangpui Music Festival in Lunglei from November 11 to 13 and the Winter Festival in Aizawl from December 15 to 23. The ongoing Hnahsin Kut, or Cosmos Festival, in Champhai, scheduled until October 16, is also being highlighted during the Travel Fest. By connecting festivals with destinations, accommodation and local enterprises, Mizoram aims to encourage longer visitor stays, extend tourism activity across seasons and distribute economic opportunities beyond major urban centres. Notably, the Winter Fest will bring together all the departments of the State Government under one umbrella, wherein the departments will align and incorporate their respective activities, as part of the festival.

Through sustainable, community-led development, Mizoram aims to showcase its culture, adventure and natural beauty to the world while preserving its heritage for generations to come.