Sikkim has emerged as the leading destination for foreign tourists in India's Northeast region, drawing nearly 69,000 visitors in 2025. This strong performance has continued into the first half of 2026, according to recent government data.
Sikkim's Dominance in Tourist Arrivals
In 2025, Sikkim recorded 68,992 foreign tourist visits (FTVs), significantly outperforming other states in the region. Assam followed as a distant second with 33,858 FTVs, while Tripura registered 27,320 foreign visitors. Other states saw considerably fewer international arrivals, with Mizoram at 11,484, Meghalaya at 7,116, Nagaland at 5,425, and Arunachal Pradesh at 4,582. Manipur recorded the lowest number of foreign tourist visits at 2,892.
The positive trend for Sikkim continued in the first six months of 2026, with the state attracting 43,734 foreign tourist visits. Assam again ranked second with 32,471 FTVs for the same period. Tripura saw 9,424 visits, and Mizoram recorded 7,389.
Domestic Tourism Snapshot
While leading in foreign tourist numbers, Sikkim also showed a robust domestic tourism sector. In the first half of 2026, the state recorded 23.52 lakh domestic tourist visits. Assam, however, led the region in domestic tourism with 46.04 lakh visits during the same period.
Government Initiatives to Boost Northeast Tourism
The Ministry of Tourism is actively promoting destinations and tourism products across the Northeast through various initiatives. Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted these efforts in the Lok Sabha, mentioning promotional events, financial assistance to state governments for fairs and festivals, exhibitions, and leveraging websites and social media platforms.
A key initiative is the annual International Tourism Mart (ITM), which has been organized in the Northeast since 2013. This event aims to showcase the region's diverse tourism potential to both domestic and international audiences. The most recent ITM was held in Gangtok, Sikkim, from November 13 to 16, 2025, bringing together tourism businesses, entrepreneurs, buyers, sellers, media, and government agencies from all eight northeastern states.
Furthermore, the ministry revamped the Incredible India website into the Incredible India Digital Platform (IIDP) in September 2024. This platform features tourism destinations across the Northeast and is accessible in multiple languages, including Hindi, English, and other UN languages, to ensure broader reach. The ministry also uses its social media channels to regularly share creative content and promotional material about Northeast destinations.