Shillong, April 22: Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, President of the Voice of the People Party (VPP), has sharply criticised the functioning of 5-star hotels in Meghalaya, alleging that such projects have not delivered adequate benefits to the local population and instead favour outsiders.

Addressing a public meeting in Motphran, Basaiawmoit cited prominent establishments such as Vivanta Meghalaya Shillong and Courtyard by Marriott Shillong. He claimed that while these hotels represent significant tourism investments, employment patterns remain skewed, with many managerial and technical roles occupied by individuals from outside the state. Local youth, he said, are largely restricted to lower-paying positions such as housekeeping, security and other support services.

According to him, this reflects a broader failure to ensure that the tourism sector becomes a meaningful source of employment for residents. Instead, he argued, it primarily benefits external companies and investors.

Basaiawmoit also raised concerns over the proposed 5-star project by the Taj Hotels at Lumpongdeng near Umiam. He questioned whether new projects would bring tangible benefits to the indigenous population if existing disparities in current hotel ventures remain unaddressed.

He warned that introducing large-scale investments without a clear policy framework to protect local interests could worsen unemployment among local youth. In this context, he called on the state government to adopt stricter measures, including employment quotas or reservations, targeted skill development initiatives, and mandatory policies ensuring fair representation of locals across all levels of employment.

Concluding his remarks, Basaiawmoit stressed that development must be inclusive and should not disproportionately benefit outsiders, but instead translate into equitable opportunities and tangible gains for the people of Meghalaya.