Aizawl: Mizoram is rapidly emerging as the fastest-growing tourist destination in the Northeast, fueled by the historic arrival of the national railway network and a surge in high-value infrastructure investments, Governor Vijay Kumar Singh said on Tuesday.
Addressing the first day of the Mizoram Assembly’s budget session, Singh hailed the new rail connectivity as a “historic milestone.”
The 51.38 km Bairabi-Sairang line, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last September, has integrated Aizawl into the national grid.
Since then, the Governor noted, the state has experienced a paradigm shift in accessibility, opening new avenues for trade, employment, and tourism.
The impact of improved connectivity is already visible in the data. Between April and December 2025, Mizoram recorded over 6.79 lakh visitors, including 9,606 foreign tourists. This represents a 29.5% increase over the total footfall of the previous year.
The momentum reached a peak in December 2025, which saw an unprecedented 1.33 lakh visitors, a staggering 122% spike compared to the same month in 2024.
Governor Singh emphasized that the state’s strategy to promote eco-tourism has gained significant federal support.
He highlighted that the state government has received Rs 34.5 crore under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme for the construction of the Vantawng View Aerial Ropeway at Vantawng Falls, the state’s highest waterfall, located near Thenzawl in Mamit district.
Rs 5.47 crore was sanctioned by the Union Tourism Ministry under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme for the development of basic amenities at Vangchhia in east Mizoram’s Champhai district, which houses about 170 menhirs protected by the ASI.
Additionally, the state government received a sanction of Rs 9.97 crore from the Tourism Ministry for the construction of a convention centre at Thingsulthliah in Saitual district, according to the Governor.
In a move to ensure sustainable growth, the state’s Tourism Department recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Environment, Forests & Climate Change Department.
This partnership, formalized during the first Mizoram Travel Fest in October last year, aims to strengthen cooperation for the promotion of eco-tourism, Singh said.
The state’s unique appeal was recently recognized at the national level when it received the “Emerging Eco & Nature Retreat Award” at the 10th International Tourism Conclave in New Delhi.
To further showcase Mizo heritage, a live museum featuring demonstrations of traditional Mizo life is being held at Zokhua (a Mizo traditional village) in Falkawn near Aizawl, and the event has been extended until March, the Governor said.