The state government has successfully garnered substantial support from both the central government and external funding agencies to sustain its focus on attracting high-end, low-volume tourists.
There were 15 lakh tourists who visited Meghalaya last year and this is expected to grow by another 33 per cent to 20 lakh by 2028.
Although tourism is ever more important to Meghalaya’s economy, the sheer number of visitors is also taking a toll on the state’s resources and infrastructure. More footfall means more traffic on the roads, more waste generated and more precious resources (like water) consumed.
The state government has, therefore, been thinking of ways to prioritise high value tourism, with Bhutan one of the examples to follow.
“We aim to cater to tourists willing to spend a minimum of three to four days exploring various tourism circuits. We’ve received significant support from the central government and external agencies like the ADB (Asian Development Bank),” Lyngdoh stated.
Projections indicate that Meghalaya’s tourism industry will grow to Rs 12,000 crore by 2028, significantly higher than the Rs 1,600 crore in 2022.
