The Manipur government is considering a proposal to relax Protected Area Permit (PAP) regulations for foreign tourists of Indian origin as part of efforts to revive and strengthen the state’s tourism sector.
Manipur Tourism Commissioner N. Kheda Varta Singh said certain non-sensitive tourist destinations in the valley region could be exempted from the permit requirement, citing significant improvements in the law-and-order situation since the ethnic violence that erupted in 2023.
Speaking on the sidelines of the International Tourism Mart 2026 in Guwahati, Singh noted that around 70 to 80 per cent of Manipur’s major tourist attractions are located in the valley areas.
According to him, security concerns are now largely confined to parts of the hill districts, particularly in the northern region of the state. He said no major incidents of violence had been reported during the past six months and tourist arrivals were gradually recovering, although isolated incidents continue to occur in remote locations.
Singh said the proposal would first be placed before the state’s top leadership before being taken up with the Union Ministry of Tourism and subsequently the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Highlighting Manipur’s strategic and sensitive location along the Myanmar border, he suggested that special provisions could be considered for people of Indian origin travelling to the state with their families, provided there are no security concerns.
He proposed that visitors specify the locations they intend to visit in advance. Areas found to be non-sensitive from a security perspective could then be exempted from PAP requirements.
The tourism commissioner also advocated a simplified clearance process, including granting local authorities or the tourism department the power to issue permits to verified low-risk applicants. At present, foreign nationals require a Protected Area Permit to enter designated protected areas in Manipur.
However, the tourism department’s optimistic assessment comes amid ongoing security concerns in parts of the state.
On Friday, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) issued an urgent travel advisory urging Kuki-Zo residents of Sadar Hills and adjoining Kuki-inhabited regions to avoid travelling beyond those areas until further notice.
Citing a volatile security environment and continuing threats to civilian safety, the organisation advised residents to avoid routes passing through areas where their security could not be guaranteed, including for essential journeys.
CoTU clarified that the advisory was intended purely as a precautionary measure to prevent the loss of innocent lives and was not meant to create panic or provoke any community. The advisory will remain in force until further notice.
During a presentation titled “Manipur – The Land of Jewels,” Singh showcased several prominent attractions in the state’s approximately 2,000 sq km valley region. These included Loktak Lake, a 122-foot polo heritage statue, a memorial commemorating resistance against British forces in 1891, and the Japanese War Memorial.
To support his assessment of improving conditions, Singh pointed to the successful visit of a South Korean delegation from October 19 to 24, whose members stayed in the state for nearly a week without any untoward incident. A Japanese delegation is also scheduled to visit Manipur from November 1 to 7.
He further highlighted Mera Houchongba, a traditional festival celebrated in October that brings together hill and valley communities and promotes peace, harmony and social cohesion.
According to figures presented by Singh, Manipur received approximately 1.6 lakh tourists in 2022-23, including around 5,400 foreign visitors. However, tourist arrivals declined sharply to about 30,000 in 2025-26. He expressed optimism that the numbers would increase significantly in the coming years, particularly after railway connectivity reaches Imphal in 2028.
