Shillong, May 30: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma took his governance pitch from Smit village on Saturday, and went live on Facebook to promote the state’s plan to scale up homestays and link tourism with jobs, skills, and the National Games.
Meghalaya currently has nearly 900 operational homestays. Another 2,100 are expected to be sanctioned, with a target of 3,000 homestays across the state in the next 12 to 18 months, he said.
“Homestays are a very important and critical part of our tourism sector. Through homestays, we ensure benefits directly reach local families,” Sangma said.
While interacting with residents, tourists, and entrepreneurs at the village market, the chief minister addressed various pressing local issues. He also visited RC Homestay, and spoke to the host family about challenges and growth.
Community members raised concerns regarding garbage collection and street lighting, to which Sangma assured that these matters would be thoroughly communicated to the relevant departments.
In addition to promoting homestays, Sangma highlighted the integral connection between tourism and job creation, particularly as Meghalaya gears up for the 2027 National Games.
He detailed the Skills Meghalaya programme, which has successfully trained nearly 30,000 youth, with 5,000 focused on tourism and hospitality. Furthermore, he said through initiatives like Prime and CM Elevate, transportation-linked livelihoods have been positively impacted.
The Smit visit was part of the CM Connect initiative to boost direct citizen engagement. Over tea at a roadside stall, Sangma urged tourists to explore Meghalaya’s culture and hospitality.
“There is a need to connect with people at the grassroots level. A public representative cannot truly understand lives and concerns without staying close to the community,” he said.
