SHILLONG, MAY 6: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said that tourism in Meghalaya can succeed only when every stakeholder works together as part of a larger ecosystem.
He made the remark while attending the Empowerment of Tourism Champions of Meghalaya event at Orchid Lake, Umiam.
Organised by the Tourism Department, the programme brought together tourism stakeholders, entrepreneurs, artisans, students, community leaders, and beneficiaries from across the state.
The event also highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen tourism through community-based entrepreneurship, infrastructure development, skill enhancement, and livelihood generation.
Speaking at the event, Sangma described the occasion as an important milestone in Meghalaya’s tourism journey and congratulated the Tourism Department, stakeholders, and local entrepreneurs for their collective efforts in placing Meghalaya firmly on the national tourism map and increasingly on the global tourism landscape.
He said tourism cannot succeed through the efforts of the government alone, nor through the efforts of individual hotel owners, taxi operators, restaurant owners, or other stakeholders working in isolation.
“Tourism thrives only when every stakeholder plays their part,” he said, adding that despite challenges, Meghalaya has made a strong beginning in building a robust tourism ecosystem.
Emphasising the government’s long-term vision, he said tourism is not just about events, hotels, or cultural programmes, but about creating a complete ecosystem that inspires travellers to choose Meghalaya as their destination.
“When a family sits together and decides where they want to travel, Meghalaya must be visible. Meghalaya must be attractive. Meghalaya must be a destination that naturally comes to mind,” he said.
He stated that visibility alone is not enough, and that tourists also consider infrastructure, connectivity, safety, comfort, and the overall quality of experience before choosing a destination. “Our goal is simple—every tourist who visits Meghalaya should leave with memories of a lifetime,” he said.
Drawing from his own travel experiences, the Chief Minister said memorable tourism experiences are often shaped by simple human gestures rather than luxury alone.
Speaking about the government’s investments in tourism branding and infrastructure, he said events, festivals, and tourism projects play a crucial role in shaping perceptions and attracting visitors to the state.
Highlighting the state’s tourism roadmap, he said several iconic projects are currently underway, including the Shillong Ropeway, the Mawkdok Skywalk, the Rain Museum in Mawsynram, the Living Root Bridge Museum, and tourism centres in Sohra, Mandalgre, and Siju.
He also announced a major development in connectivity, stating that the expansion of Shillong Airport has now moved forward, with runway expansion work officially awarded by the Government of India. He said the project is expected to be completed within approximately 15 months and would allow larger aircraft to operate into Shillong.
“This will be a game changer for tourism in Meghalaya,” he said.
Congratulating beneficiaries and tourism stakeholders, he reiterated that every initiative of the government is designed to create opportunities for the people. “Every programme, every policy, and every initiative of this government is designed with one goal—to serve our people,” he said, adding, “Our government is a government that puts people first.”
Tourism Minister Timothy D Shira said the programme represented far more than a felicitation ceremony and reflected the larger transformation taking place across Meghalaya.
He said that when tourism was identified as a priority sector, the vision was to make it a strong driver of economic growth and a meaningful source of livelihood for the people.
Highlighting the sector’s growth, he said tourist footfall in Meghalaya had increased significantly, with provisional figures indicating nearly 18 lakh visitors in 2025.
“Tourism is no longer simply about visitor arrivals—it has emerged as one of the strongest pillars of our state’s economy,” he said.
He informed that over 150 tourism projects are currently being implemented across the state with investments worth thousands of crores, alongside growing participation from the private sector.
Speaking about the government’s larger vision, he said Meghalaya is now working towards developing Umiam as a global tourism destination.
Referring to recent initiatives, he said Meghalaya has established a dedicated Destination Management Organization to ensure professional destination planning, inter-departmental coordination, improved visitor experience, promotional activities, and sustainable destination management.
“We are not only creating destinations, we are building systems that will support tourism growth for generations to come,” he said.
Calling the beneficiaries active partners in the state’s development journey, he added, “The individuals we are recognising today are not merely beneficiaries. They are active contributors to Meghalaya’s transformation.”
He further stated that tourism-led growth is now reaching villages, remote communities, and emerging destinations, ensuring that development remains inclusive.
The programme also featured audio-visual presentations highlighting the participation of 80 artisans from Meghalaya at the Surajkund International Crafts Mela, where Meghalaya was featured as the theme state, as well as an exposure visit of tourism stakeholders from Sohra to Ekta Nagar.
A bravery award was also presented by the Chief Minister to Teiborlang Pakma for rescuing a drowning person at Ward’s Lake.
During the event, the Chief Minister announced new beneficiaries under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission and recognised successful beneficiaries under the Chief Minister’s Homestay Scheme-PMEGP. Launched in September 2025, the Mission aims to create 3,000 new homestays by 2028 and generate over 15,000 employment opportunities across the state. So far, 80 homestay applications have been approved, of which 55 from the Khasi, Jaintia, and Ri-Bhoi region have been sanctioned financial assistance amounting to ₹3.85 crore.
Sanction letters were also distributed under the Community-Led Infrastructure Scheme, aimed at empowering villages, cooperatives, and tourism societies to develop tourism infrastructure in areas with high and emerging tourism potential.
While 20 projects are already being implemented on the ground, the government today announced 58 new beneficiaries from the Khasi, Jaintia, and Ri-Bhoi regions, with total sanctioned support amounting to ₹3.40 crore.
The government also announced a major push towards improving public amenities at tourist destinations across the state. Toilet facilities are currently being constructed, renovated, or upgraded at 84 tourist sites under various schemes. Under the State Scheme alone, 17 major destinations, including the Living Root Bridges, Ward’s Lake, Laitlum Canyons, Mawphanlur, Umiam Lake Viewpoint, Krang Suri Falls, Wari Chora, and Siju, are being equipped with modern toilet facilities at an estimated cost of ₹3.44 crore.
Students of the Institute of Hotel Management Shillong were also handed scholarship certificates under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Hospitality Scholarship Scheme. Till date, 21 students have received full course fee scholarships worth ₹3.67 lakh each, while 37 students have received annual stipends of ₹32,000 under the reserved category across the 2023–24 to 2025–26 academic sessions.
A beneficiary under the Chief Minister’s Homestay Scheme-PMEGP, Daminot Kharchandi, also shared his entrepreneurial journey, stating that the government’s initial financial assistance gave him the confidence to begin despite having no prior business experience.
He said what began as a small homestay with three cottages has now grown into Mukhan Resort, with expanded facilities and further plans for growth.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Brenda Lee Pakyntein.
Others present included Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Umsning MLA Dr. Celestine Lyngdoh, Mawhati MLA Charles Marngar, former MLA and Advisor to the Tourism Department Lambor Malngiang, along with senior government officials, tourism stakeholders, beneficiaries, artisans, hospitality students, and entrepreneurs from different parts of the state.
