Meghalaya government gears up to open for tourism

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Taking off from what he advocated to restart the tourism industry in the State, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday laid his government's foot prints to revamp the business that has cost a lot to the dependence of the industry. The tourism industry has been severely affected since the pandemic, to an extent that many have to undertake a different daily profession to sustain their living. Participating in a virtual meeting called by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel to discuss ease of travel to enhance domestic tourism, Conrad Sangma informed Patel on several initiatives and intervention taken by the State to promote tourism and measures being adopted for the safety of tourists as the State gears up to open for tourism.

He also said that Meghalaya has prepared itself to cater to tourists and has also inked an Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with a private airline company to operationalize flights from Delhi to Shillong, which would further boost tourism.

"Direct flight from Delhi to Shillong and from Shillong to other State capitals in Northeast will open up a huge tourism market," said the Chief Minister.

He further informed that 22 million outbound tourists from India, who usually look for high end tourism destinations outside, can take advantage of the low COVID situation in Northeast and explore the scenic and natural beauty of the region. However, people in the tourism business felt that the apprehensions of the travellers will not make things happen. "Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary will be reopened, checked out the number of tourist to visit," stated a tour agent on condition of anonymity, even as she added that the days will go formany furlough.

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