Shillong, September 2, 2024: Meghalaya today hosted the North Eastern and Eastern States/ Union Territories Tourism Ministers Conference marking a significant step in collaborative efforts to enhance the tourism sector across the Eastern and Northeastern states including the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The conference designed to share insights and strategies on how to improve tourism brought together delegates and representatives from several Eastern states as well as the Northeast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Several states’ presentations were held where tourism potentials were discussed alongside future plans for enhancement.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Tourism Minister in his address at the meeting said, “I must appreciate the enthusiasm of the states. Every state has developed a target.” He further stated that the states have set a target for themselves and lauded the competitive spirit between the states. Having heard presentations of the states, he said that it is one of the best meetings he has attended so far.
Shri Paul Lyngdoh, Hon’ble Tourism Minister while addressing the conference stated that Meghalaya is blessed with breathtaking landscapes that captivate every visitor and is home to mysterious and magnificent range of caves, including the UNESCO-recognised Mawmluh cave, which draws adventure enthusiasts from around the globe. “While these natural wonders define tourism in our
State, the true essence of Meghalaya lies in the warmth and hospitality of our people. We believe that meaningful progress comes from empowering local communities, which is why community
involvement is at the heart of our tourism efforts,” he said.
Tourism is the second-largest employment generator in Meghalaya, and our vision is to transform our State into India's most preferred tourist destination, said Shri Paul Lyngdoh. However, this also poses many challenges to the state. Popular tourist destinations in Meghalaya are frequently visited by a large number of tourists which creates a heavy burden on the natural assets of the State. This imbalance is further compounded by limited connectivity and insufficient infrastructure, such as accommodation units, amenities and utilities at many tourist destinations. To overcome these challenges, the government wants to promote sustainable and responsible tourism, achieve equal distribution of tourists across the state and promote new destinations. Therefore, the state is actively working with tourism stakeholders, including local communities, businesses and tourism partners, to create a unified path toward sustainable and inclusive growth.
In recent years, Meghalaya has emerged as a captivating destination on India's travel map. As of 2023, Meghalaya’s tourism industry has directly employed 50,084 residents while investments have reached Rs 465 crores over the last three years. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry experienced a remarkable Compound Annual Growth Rate of 7.34 percent, which is anticipated to result in a significant surge in the next five years.
The tourism sector in Meghalaya not only drives the economic growth of the state, but also generates employment with 50000 jobs being provided directly. Meghalaya has also been focusing on sustainable tourism under which key initiatives such as Community-Led Tourism Infrastructure Development Scheme, eco-tourism promotion, and improved waste management are being discussed by collaborating with local communities and businesses to create an inclusive and environmentally responsible tourism model benefiting both tourists and residents of the state.
The Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (MGMP) also plays a key role in driving the tourism sector in Meghalaya. MGMP goes beyond music as it nurtures a creative economy, empowering artists and cultural vibrancy showcasing Meghalaya’s unique heritage on a wider platform attracting tourists and investments. The program saw the interaction of the tourism ministers of the North-Eastern and Eastern states with Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism. The speakers highlighted their respective state's strength in different categories ranging from adventure, spirituality, sight- seeing, culture, history, festivals and more. The respective states also sought the Hon’ble Minister’s intervention in areas which they observed is a stumbling block for tourism promotion in their state to which the Hon’ble Minister responded giving his feedback and assurance of looking into the matter.
Dignitaries in attendance included Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister of Tourism; Shri Paul Lyngdoh, Hon’ble Tourism Minister, Govt of Meghalaya; Shri Suresh Gopi, Union Minister of State for Tourism; Shri Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism; Smti Mugdha Sinha, IAS, Director General, Ministry of Tourism; Shri Cyril V. D. Diengdoh, IAS, Director, Tourism Department, Govt. of Meghalaya; Shri M. R. Synrem, IAS, Administration & Information Division, Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Ministers of Northeastern states; officials of the Ministry of Tourism, and tourism department from Meghalaya; and other states officials among others.
The conference was successful in demonstrating how important it is for states to collaborate and cooperate in developing the tourism industry as each state has something positive to offer towards
creating dynamic tourism for development initiatives.