HVS Report: Connectivity Fuels Northeast Tourism
- By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
- Oct 23, 2025
- 34
Improved road infrastructure, expanded rail networks, and a doubling of airports are transforming the tourism landscape of India’s Northeast, according to a new report by HVS Anarock titled “A Hidden Gem for Tourism Potential.”
The report highlights how government-backed multimodal connectivity — spanning roads, railways, airports, and inland waterways — is dramatically reducing travel time and transportation costs, while unlocking the region’s vast tourism potential.
“Given the region’s strategic importance and economic potential, the government has prioritised rapid highway development,” the report noted. “Major programmes and dedicated funding are driving improvements in both intra-regional and inter-state road links, significantly reducing travel times.”
For example, the Itanagar–Guwahati journey that once took 10–12 hours a decade ago now takes only about 5.5 to 6 hours, thanks to new road construction, highway widening, and bypass development.
The pace of railway expansion has also “significantly accelerated.” Between 2014 and 2024, around 1,728 km of new tracks were laid in the region — an average of 172.8 km a year, compared to just 66.6 km annually between 2009 and 2014.
Air connectivity has seen an equally dramatic transformation. The number of operational airports in the Northeast has more than doubled to 19 in 2024 from nine in 2013. Passenger and cargo traffic have surged 113 per cent over the past decade, with air passenger numbers hitting a record 11.2 million in 2024 after robust post-pandemic growth of 52 per cent in 2022 and 54 per cent in 2023.
“This remarkable growth has been fuelled by enhanced regional connectivity through government initiatives, expansion of airline networks, and improved airport infrastructure, which have collectively opened up the Northeast to greater tourism and business travel,” the report added.
Despite these gains, the region still accounts for only 0.43 per cent of India’s domestic tourist visits (DTVs) and 1.17 per cent of foreign tourist visits (FTVs) as of 2024. HVS Anarock suggests that continued policy intervention and investment could substantially boost these numbers.
Hotel Sector Set for Major Expansion
To meet rising demand, the region’s branded hotel supply is expected to nearly double by 2030, with over 3,000 new rooms in the pipeline. Assam alone is projected to add 2,000 branded hotel rooms, followed by Arunachal Pradesh with about 660 rooms.
As of June 2025, the Northeast accounted for 3,400 branded hotel keys, representing just 1.7 per cent of India’s total branded inventory of around 202,000 rooms.
“The expansion of hotel accommodation will be a very important component of a holistic tourism development plan contributing to inclusive growth,” said M. P. Bezbaruah, Secretary General of the Hotel Association of India and former Tourism Secretary. “The plan is most welcome news for Northeast tourism.”
Praising the region’s appeal, Bezbaruah added: “The Northeast stands out as one of India’s most stunning and culturally vibrant regions, known for its breathtaking landscapes, rich traditions, and immense variety in culture, cuisine, wildlife, and geography. Such variety makes it an ideal destination for new-age tourists looking for fresh and sustainable experiences. Yet much of it remains unexplored — and the Ministry of Tourism has rightly termed the Northeast the ‘Paradise Unexplored’.”