Mizoram is expanding its tourism infrastructure after recording a sharp rise in visitor numbers, with the state government targeting a tourism contribution of 5% to 7% of Gross State Domestic Product by 2047 and at least 10 lakh visitors by the end of 2026, Chief Minister Lalduhoma said on Wednesday.
Speaking on the second day of the Mizoram Travel Fest 2026, Lalduhoma said tourism’s current contribution to the state’s GSDP was 2.3%. He said the government was developing infrastructure to meet rising demand while building on Mizoram’s natural landscapes, cleanliness, peaceful environment and cultural identity.
“Demand for Mizoram is real and rising, and it now exceeds the facilities available to serve it. That gap represents the opportunity before us,” Lalduhoma said, according to the state tourism department’s account of the event.
Tourism projects worth more than Rs 681.16 crore are currently under execution with support from the Centre and external partners. The projects include eco-resorts, ropeways, heritage centres, pilgrimage circuits and convention facilities. Lalduhoma said the government had created the groundwork for tourism growth and invited private businesses to invest in the sector.
The increase in arrivals has coincided with improved connectivity, particularly after the Bairabi-Sairang railway line opened in September 2025. Mizoram recorded more than 6.7 lakh visitors between January and August 2026, a 51% increase over the corresponding period in 2025. The state’s target of 10 lakh visitors by December 31 is roughly equivalent to its population, Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar said.
Hmar, however, said visitor numbers alone should not be the main measure of tourism growth. The department would also assess the income and employment generated for local communities, he said. Its proposed tourism strategy seeks to connect destinations with accommodation, transport, trained personnel and bookable experiences so that more visitor spending reaches local businesses.
The strategy also includes year-round events intended to distribute tourist arrivals across seasons. Hnahsin Kut in Champhai is scheduled to continue until October 16, followed by the Leitlangpui Music Festival in Lunglei from November 11 to 13 and the Aizawl Winter Festival from December 15 to 23.
Tourism commissioner and secretary Lalrozama said rising arrivals and inadequate facilities created opportunities for responsible investment. The government is exploring private-sector participation, community enterprises and public-private partnerships, he said.
Environmental protection and local customs are also being incorporated into the expansion. Mizoram has 85.34% forest cover, along with biodiversity, waterfalls, scenic landscapes and living Mizo culture that the Tourism Department identifies as key attractions. The department has signed an agreement with the Central Young Mizo Association to familiarise visitors with local traditions.
The agreement also covers measures to reduce plastic waste at festivals and improve the regulation and monitoring of accommodation facilities in coordination with the Central Young Mizo Association and the Aizawl Municipal Corporation. Lalduhoma said Mizoram’s location along the international borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh could give tourism a regional dimension and support cooperation with neighbouring areas.
