Railways, events, sports fuel Mizoram tourism

GUWAHATI

Mizoram is strengthening its tourism-led growth strategy, banking on improved connectivity, specifically by railways, large-scale infrastructure investment, and destination-focused events to drive economic expansion.

Tourism is emerging as a key pillar of the State’s economy, with the government aiming to convert short visits into longer, high-value stays.

The inauguration of the Bairabi-Sairang railway line in September 2025 has significantly improved access to the State, and the impact is already visible, officials said.

Mizoram recorded a 145.54% rise in tourist arrivals between 2023 and 2024. The numbers are growing even faster in the current year, with final figures yet to be compiled, officials say. With rail connectivity now operational, the State expects tourist inflows to rise further.

“This is not just about increasing tourist numbers. It’s about reshaping Mizoram’s economic future through tourism,” Sports and Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar said in Guwahati on Wednesday (January 21, 2026).

The government’s vision is to position Mizoram as a premium experiential destination rooted in nature, culture and community participation, he said. Tourism, he added, is expected to create rural livelihoods, generate employment opportunities for young people, and enhance the State’s global visibility.

Festival calendar

To encourage longer and more immersive visits, the Tourism Department has rolled out the Mizoram Tourism Events and Festival Calendar 2026. Launched in December 2025, the calendar brings together major festivals, cultural programmes and sporting events across the year. The initiative is aimed at helping travellers plan visits and experience the State beyond brief stopovers.

The calendar features events, including Chapchar Kut, the Anthurium Festival, the Mizoram Travel Fest, and winter celebrations. The focus is on sustaining tourism activity throughout the year while boosting local businesses and community participation, officials say.

Events have become a strategic tool to attract visitors, Tourism Director R. Lalrodingi said. The calendar was curated after studying travel trends and visitor behaviour, Ms. Lalrodingi said. The objective, she added, was to move away from seasonal tourism and build a year-round visitor economy where tourists stay longer, explore more, and spend locally.

The tourism push is backed by substantial public investment. Mizoram is currently implementing tourism infrastructure projects worth ₹395.04 crore under Central and externally aided schemes. These include eco-resorts, ropeways, heritage centres, pilgrimage circuits, convention facilities, and farm tourism roads. The projects are being executed under different programmes, including Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASHAD, NESIDS, and SASCI.

Special package

Alongside infrastructure development, the State is focusing on entrepreneurship. Under the ‘Bana Kaih’ (handholding) scheme, tourism entrepreneurs are being supported in several areas, including homestays, transport services, catering, travel operations, and souvenir production. As part of a special package, 100 rural homestays will be developed over the next two years, placing local communities at the centre of tourism growth.

The emphasis is on ensuring tourism infrastructure translates into livelihoods, officials said. The aim is to retain tourism revenue within villages and create sustainable local employment.

Sports tourism is another major pillar of Mizoram’s strategy. The Aizawl International Half Marathon 2026, scheduled for February 14 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, is expected to draw around 5,000 runners from India and abroad. The inaugural edition in 2025 attracted 1,500 participants.

“The marathon is being positioned as a destination experience rather than just a race,” said Captain Rahul Bali, the Managing Director of Innovations India and curator of the event. National outreach programmes, route optimisation, athlete engagement initiatives, and digital campaigns were being rolled out to establish the event as a benchmark sporting fixture in the northeast, he said.

With a prize pool exceeding ₹15 lakh, accreditation from the Athletics Federation of India and improved rail connectivity, the marathon is expected to boost business for hotels, transport operators, eateries and local artisans.

Through coordinated planning across infrastructure, entrepreneurship, festivals, and sports, Mizoram is seeking to position itself as a high-value tourism destination anchored in authenticity, sustainability, and community ownership.