According to the provisional data from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, 118.45 lakh domestic and 1.04 lakh foreign tourists visited the North Eastern States during the year 2022.

Presently, there are 16 operational airports in the North Eastern Region.

The Ministry of Railways has informed that in the NER during the year 2021-22, 14 new line projects, covering a total length of 1,181 kms have been planned/sanctioned/executed out of which, 361 kms have been commissioned. 5 doubling projects covering a length of 728 kms have been planned/sanctioned/executed, out of which 48 kms have been commissioned. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken up/sanctioned national highway development works of 5137 kms in the NER. These infrastructure projects are providing essential/ critical connectivity for a barrier-free environment for the growth of tourism in the NER.

The NEC has taken various initiatives to create a barrier-free environment for the growth of tourism in the NER, including holding consultative meetings with tourism stakeholders like North East Tourism Departments, North East Tour operators, etc.

This information was given by Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Shri G. Kishan Reddy in the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Monday.