Shillong, Feb 27: Meghalaya is all set to implement an externally aided project (EAP) worth over Rs 700 crore for promotion of tourism.

This was informed by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma while announcing the decision of the government to organize the first of its kind ‘Meghalayan Age Festival’ in the region here on Thursday.

“The EAP amounting to Rs 700 crore will be sanctioned by the BRICS Bank few months from now as it has been cleared in principle. The project will be specifically for promotion of rural and sustainable tourism in the state,” Sangma told reporters.

He said representatives of BRICS bank, World Bank, ADB and other financial institutions have been invited and they have given their confirmation to attend the nine-day festival which will be held at the picturesque site of Thadlaskein in West Jaintia Hills from March 7 to 15.

The chief minister also announced that a three-day National Conclave on Tourism will also be held during the festival.

Union minister for Tourism, Prahlad Singh Patel, Union minister of state for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh, Union minister of state for Sports & Youth Affairs, Kiren Rijiju and chief ministers of the North East states will be attending the conclave.

Sangma said the objective of the ‘Meghalayan Age Festival’ is to project Meghalaya as a high-end tourist destination.

“Having said that, it does not mean we don’t want other tourists to come here and that people should not think like that as we would like to package and project ourself as a high-end destination,” he said.

The festival will feature attractions such as glamping, hot-air ballooning, caving, hiking, live performances and diverse culinary treats.

Sangma said the festival also aimed to connect local stories into the tourism aspect. “Bringing the two together is really what we are trying to do by connecting the local stories with tourism and package them in the right manner through a very high-end programme like this one,” he said.

“We are looking at media and tour operators with international connection besides top social media representatives and ambassador of different nations to attend the festival,” he said.

“A media event is also going to take place and we expect all media the big names at the global level to come and be part of this festival as we want them to start telling our stories to the rest of the world,” he added.

Stating that the government plans to make the festival a calendar event, he said, “We want to make it an event that is going to be commercially very viable and hopefully in the coming years will be able to give it away to people who may want to run it.”

Sangma said caving and adventure tourism is another important highlight of the festival. He said the caving society in the state had never got any kind of official support from the government in the past and they have been spending their own money all these years.

He said now for the first time government has supported them to buy different kinds of equipments for caving and these are long term investments and in the future many adventure tourists will come and start using these facility. “We will promote it more and in that way local caving enthusiasts and people who are into these kind of activities adventure tourism will benefit from this,” he said.

Asked, the chief minister said the government is spending over Rs 4.3 crore for the nine-day festival adding “The Meghalayan Age Festival is going to bring a paradigm shift and take tourism industry in the state to a new level.”

On the concern over the coronavirus outbreak, the chief minister assured that all safety mechanisms are in place and all medical procedures prescribed by the WHO and government of India will be followed to ensure no such threat from any of the tourists that are coming into the state.

“It is very serious concern and I don’t think the government should and I am going to assure that we are not going to take it likely,” he said.

He said at the global level there are different mechanisms being put in place to ensure people from the affected areas and districts and affected countries are not allowed to travel this side.

“So there are already measures that are being put in place so obviously those measures will have an impact and I doubt we will have any people coming in from the affected areas cause I don’t think they will be able to come out also you know they are quarantine. But it is important that all measures and precaution need to be taken therefore I can assure you, tourist and people that are coming in all safety mechanisms are in place,” the chief minister said.