Here's how Meghalaya's CM plans to script tourism success story in post-COVID world

Shillong: Planning a strategy to revamp and revitalize the tourism sector in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that his government is working on a strategy to transform the COVID-19 situation into an opportunity attract over 26 million tourists to the North East, particularly Meghalaya.

During a ceremony held in the capital city Shillong on Monday, Sangma said that the COVID-19 presents a golden opportunity for the state of Meghalaya to capitalize, as most of the tourists who go to foreign countries shall not be able to do so due to COVID restrictions.

To counter the pandemic situation, Sangma said, adaptive measures need to be considered and implemented so that Meghalaya can be promoted as "safe" for tourists post-COVID.

The impetus, he added, should be on taking safety measures so that the confidence of the visiting tourists can be boosted. "Overall we need to adapt to this entire situation to take maximum advantage to attract visitors because I feel there will be a decline in people traveling to outside locations and we will see a lot of domestic tourists coming into our state," Sangma said.

Sangma further added that the focus in the coming times should be on ecotourism and sustainable tourism  as "people all over the world see Meghalaya as a destination from the environment perspective."

Sangma further added that the government is putting all efforts to improve air connectivity to major cities across the country. He said that planning is underway to connect the state of Meghalaya with some of the major cities of the country to improve connectivity.

It needs mention here that the Meghalaya government has launched the new website of Meghalaya Tourism – 'Check into Nature'. Sangma, inaugurating the website yesterday, said that the comprehensive website will greatly benefit tourists visiting Meghalaya.

The chief minister also launched the 'Restart Tourism' pamphlet during the function, which is expected to lay the blueprint for a rehaul of the entire sector and re-frame it to fit the needs of a post-COVID world.

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