Overview
- State data presented to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar show tourist arrivals fell from about 1.79 lakh in 2019–20 to roughly 17,000 in 2024–25.
- Officials reported a breakdown of 1.67 lakh domestic and 12,000 foreign visitors in 2019–20 versus 15,700 domestic and 1,300 foreign in 2024–25.
- The decline was attributed primarily to continuing ethnic unrest between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, with high airfares cited as an additional deterrent.
- State officials asked the minister to take up airfare concerns with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to help restore travel demand.
- Kumar said the Centre has spent ₹500 crore on relief and rehabilitation and requested a short-, medium- and long-term development plan from the state within a week.