The Government of Meghalaya has committed Rs 840.29 crore in its endeavour to upgrade the State’s tourism infrastructure and make Meghalaya one of the leading destinations for quality and sustainable tourism. This would mean that the initiative will benefit locals as well as visitors. The importance of the topic to the state economy was explored in detail by Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh during a discussion of it in the state assembly. According to him, almost 50,000 people in Meghalaya are either directly or indirectly employed in the tourism industry. Lyngdoh continued, “Tourism is an important constituent of the economy of the state, and the government is committed to fostering growth in this sector for employment opportunities, economic activities, and improvement in the quality of life of its citizens.”
Additionally, he described the strategy to establish Meghalaya as a top travel destination for upscale adventure, experiential, and cultural tourism markets. He claimed that tourism can significantly boost the state’s economy and create a large number of jobs. In order to fulfill their duties, they must construct first-rate tourist attractions in both new and well-known locations. It entails creating additional lodging options, facilitating easy access to scenic locations, and enhancing the traveler experience.
The government will be assisted in realizing this goal by the Meghalaya Eco Tourism Infrastructure Development project, which has a budget of Rs 730 crore and assistance from the New Development Bank. Notable tourist locations like Sohra, Shillong, and Tura would offer exceptional amenities. The Meghalayan Age Cave Experience and Waterfall Trails in Sohra have been approved for funding under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 project, with a total of Rs 60.29 crore. The Ministry of Tourism has allocated Rs 50 crore for the Challenge-Based Destination Development project, which is a component of Swadesh Darshan 2.0. The money is intended to pay the cost of Meghalaya’s total tourism experiences by developing fresh, distinctive attractions for both domestic and foreign tourists.
It includes places like Ialong, Syntu Ksiar, Krang Suri, Shnongpdeng, Darrang, Iooksi in the Jaintia Hills, which are fast gaining popularity. The new initiatives introduced by the government to enhance the tourist experience include the Meghalaya Homestays Scheme. In association with the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, the scheme provides incentives as high as 70% for projects up to Rs 10 lakh to encourage homestays for community participation in the tourism industry.
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