Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to urgently review the reimposition of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) in the state, warning that the move could undermine tourism, cultural exchange and the economic revival of the region.
In a letter to Shah, Rio said the Ministry of Home Affairs had reinstated PAP for Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland from December 17 last year owing to security concerns along the Myanmar border. The three states had been exempt from the permit regime since 2010.
While the reassessment may be justified in Manipur and Mizoram due to violence and refugee inflows, Nagaland’s circumstances are “vastly different”, he said. The state is witnessing “one of the most peaceful periods since statehood”, with no major security threat and no refugee ingress, he added.
Rio said the PAP’s reimposition could derail the state’s tourism momentum, particularly after record footfall during the 25th Hornbill Festival. The issue was raised at the North Eastern Council plenary on December 21, and the cabinet discussed it in January and March.
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The state government subsequently wrote to the Home Ministry seeking reconsideration, followed by letters on July 17 and September 10.
He said tourism has become a key driver of Nagaland’s economy, especially as the state has historically struggled to attract private investment. Increased foreign arrivals have created jobs, revived local enterprises and enhanced India’s cultural outreach, he noted.
With the Hornbill Festival 2025 beginning on December 1, Rio said the matter has become “urgent”, with concerns that the PAP may deter international visitors. Several stakeholder groups, from tourism bodies to civil society, have urged the government to seek relaxation.
Rio assured the Centre that the state would maintain robust screening and security protocols if PAP norms are eased.
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