Aizawl, October 13: Mizoram aims to follow Bhutan’s tourism model over the next five to 10 years by attracting high-value, responsible visitors while imposing stricter restrictions on tourism, state Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference during the Mizoram Travel Fest 2026, Hmar said the government would engage Mizoram University to study the economic, social and cultural impact of rising tourist arrivals before deciding on future expansion.
“Mizoram is a unique place to travel, and we are promoting tourism to attract more tourists. However, we are a late starter compared to other northeastern states, and we are trying to catch up,” he said.
The minister said Mizoram would not appoint celebrities as brand ambassadors, unlike some neighbouring states, and would instead focus on the organic growth of its tourism sector.
“In the future, we would like to be Bhutan with a lot of restrictions, welcoming high-value and sensitised tourists,” Hmar said, adding that the transition could take five to 10 years.
He said the government had already held discussions with Mizoram University and would sign a formal agreement to conduct a comprehensive tourism impact study. The findings would help the state assess how a large influx of visitors could affect Mizo society, culture and community life.
Hmar said the government did not intend to aggressively expand tourism in 2026. Instead, the focus would be on sensitising local communities about tourist behaviour and appropriate ways to interact with visitors.
Referring to recent reports of alleged attacks on tourists by some locals in Meghalaya, he said tourism brought both benefits and challenges, cautioning that Mizoram could face similar issues if visitor numbers increased sharply.
The minister also highlighted peace as a potential selling point for the state, describing Mizoram as the country’s most peaceful state. He said the government had received ₹6 crore to establish a peace gallery, while a proposal to organise a peace festival in Thenzawl would be taken forward once funds became available.
Hmar further said the Mizoram chief minister would write to the Centre seeking relaxation of Protected Area Permit (PAP) requirements to facilitate the arrival of foreign tourists during the upcoming Winter Festival.
Foreign nationals visiting Mizoram are required to obtain a PAP through the official e-FRRO portal, while Indian citizens entering the state must possess an Inner Line Permit (ILP).