PAP Uncertainty Fails To Deter Tourists; Global Interest Fuels Nagaland’s Call For Permanent Permit Lifting

Published on December 8, 2025

An undeniably robust attendance of foreign tourists has been documented at the ongoing Hornbill Festival, a major annual cultural exposition held in Nagaland. This sustained international interest was noted even though uncertainties were surrounding the status of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime, which governs the entry of non-citizens into the region. The festival, celebrated with immense fervour, continues to serve as a magnet for global visitors, drawing them to the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, where the ten-day cultural spectacle is traditionally staged.

This strong international presence underscores the festival’s burgeoning reputation as a significant event on the global cultural calendar, proving that the allure of Nagaland’s distinctive heritage transcends logistical obstacles. The steady flow of visitors, originating from diverse nations across several continents, offers substantial evidence of the state’s potential to become a globally accessible tourism destination. A vibrant cultural exchange is currently being facilitated, allowing the intricate traditions and unique societal structures of the Naga people to be appreciated by an international audience, thereby reinforcing the state’s status as a keeper of irreplaceable cultural assets.

The Contextualization of the Protected Area Permit Regime

The matter of the Protected Area Permit has been a central regulatory topic influencing foreign travel to Nagaland. Shortly before the commencement of the festival, a partial and temporary relaxation of the PAP was enacted by the Union government. This eleventh-hour decision followed a formal appeal that had been made by the Nagaland Chief Minister to the Union Home Minister, emphasizing the need to facilitate tourism, ease travel, and foster stronger ties with partner nations participating in the annual event. It must be recognized, however, that the relief provided was explicitly partial and temporary in nature; the waiver was stipulated to remain in force only until midnight on December 10, coinciding with the conclusion of the Hornbill Festival.

It is relevant to recall that the PAP regime had previously been withdrawn from Nagaland in March 2025, an action that was directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Consequently, standard procedure mandates that all foreigners intending to visit or reside within the state’s boundaries are required to obtain the PAP online exclusively through the official e-FRRO portal. It is strictly enforced that physical PAP permits are not issued under the current regulatory framework. Furthermore, specific nationality restrictions are maintained.

Personal Journeys and Logistical Challenges

The attendance of numerous foreign guests has provided distinct perspectives on the experience of visiting Nagaland under the current travel regulations. The desire to witness the Hornbill Festival firsthand was widely expressed as the primary motivation for these arduous international journeys. An Australian visitor named Terry Sweet, aged sixty-three, had spent thirteen years nurturing the aspiration to finally visit Nagaland and witness the festival’s vibrancy with his own eyes.

The seed of this curiosity had been planted more than a decade prior, during a twelve-hour journey in West India, where an encounter with university students from Nagaland had profoundly enlightened his perception of the region, based on the deeply kind and beautiful inner character of the young people encountered. Logistical complexities were nonetheless encountered; it was shared that the uploading of all necessary information for the permit could not be completed until arrival in India. By the time the full requirements were fulfilled and a fee amounting to approximately fifty Australian dollars was settled, the announcement regarding the temporary waiver had already been made public.

Global Perspectives on Accessibility and Regional Growth

The presence of foreign dignitaries and visitors also facilitated discussions concerning the future of regional accessibility and international exchange. A representative from Bhutan, who was visiting Nagaland on a government-sponsored trip, provided an insightful comparative perspective. It was noted that a considerable number of cultural, culinary, tourism, and geographical attributes were shared between the two regions.

The purpose of their visit was specified as an exploration of these commonalities, with a view toward mutual learning and the exploration of shared talents and creative capacities. The representative suggested that the imposition of restrictive measures such as the PAP could potentially impede regional growth, particularly within the nascent tourism sector, highlighting the collective benefit that could be derived from easier movement and cooperation.

Underscoring Nagaland’s Tourism Potential

Despite the administrative uncertainties that persist regarding the future of the PAP regime, the attraction exerted by the Hornbill Festival remains indisputable, successfully drawing travellers from around the globe. These visitors are driven by a complex mix of motivations, including academic pursuit, profound cultural affinity, curiosity, or simply the desire to experience Nagaland’s unique landscape and traditions firsthand. The quantitative evidence supporting this strong international interest is provided by the official data compiled by the Nagaland Tourism Department, which recorded a total of 1,831 foreign visitors over the first seven days of the festival. This steady figure, achieved even with the regulatory complexities and the temporary nature of the permit relaxation, profoundly underscores the immense and largely untapped potential for global tourism that exists within the region.