"Beyond Myths And Mountains" is how Arunachal Pradesh has summarised its new travel policy for the next five years—a shift from its perception as a mountain state to a mixed bag of everything. “From adventure tourism to farm stay experiences, there is so much more to explore in our state. We wish to emerge as a world-class tourism destination where visitors see more than the scenic landscapes," Tourism Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona told Outlook Traveller.
Alongside the new travel policy 2025-2030, the state tourism board has also revealed a new logo, a rising sun as a nod to its moniker as the "Land of the Rising Sun."
As one of the primary destinations in the Northeast, the state aims to actively promote its new offerings while ensuring its offbeat places are not overcrowded. “Right now, we invite travellers to experience Arunachal Pradesh with an enhanced lens. From rich tribal culture to the wide-ranging biodiversity, the state offerings centre around sustainable practices, regulated footfall and community empowerment," added Sona.
The state government is prioritising experiential tourism, focusing on areas like farm tourism, wine tourism, wellness and spiritual tourism, adventure tourism, film tourism, ecotourism, tribal tourism, MICE tourism and border tourism.
It is already working on skill development and an inclusive workforce to accelerate this vision. “Skill gap assessments will be conducted to align with industry demands and provide skill training for small businesses and local guides. We will collaborate with premier institutes such as IITTM and IHM for training initiatives and introduce management courses in state institutions,” said Mopi Mihu, Advisor to the Minister for Tourism.