Shillong, Sep 29: The Department of Tourism and Travel Management, MLCU, in collaboration with Hima Sohra and the Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum (MRTF), organised a two-day program at Sohra to celebrate World Tourism Day 2025 under the global theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.”
The initiative aimed to highlight tourism’s role in promoting sustainability and community development while engaging students, local stakeholders and visitors in meaningful activities.
The program began with the ‘Clean, Green and Safe Sohra’ campaign launched at Mawkdok.
More than 40 students of MLCU, along with community members, participated in a large cleaning drive to promote responsible tourism. A facilitation booth was set up to distribute waste bags to tourist cab drivers and pamphlets to visitors, raising awareness about sustainable travel.
A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the department and the Hima to strengthen rural tourism and enhance community participation of MLCU in Sohra.
The celebration continued the next day with active participation in the 4th Sohra International Half Marathon. Students from the department volunteered along the marathon route in coordination with local schools from Sohra like Laitryngew Presbyterian School and Mawmihthied Upper Primary School.
To spread the message of sustainability, flex banners featuring slogans in both English and Khasi were displayed by the students at key points like Laitsohpliah, Umstew, Lad Mawkma, reinforcing the theme of responsible and safe tourism.
The two-day celebration highlighted the power of partnership between academia, local governance, and community stakeholders in driving tourism that is responsible, inclusive, and sustainable, demonstrating how tourism can truly contribute to sustainable transformation in Meghalaya.
