Shillong, Aug 28: Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh today warned that the demand made by tourist taxi associations to restrict vehicles from outside the state could backfire and create problems for Meghalayans.
Local tourist taxi drivers have been demanding that the state government ban tourist vehicles from other states from entering tourist spots. In their plan, tourist taxis from, say, Assam, would drop off their passengers in places like Shillong and the visitors would then need to take Meghalaya-registered taxis to surrounding tourist spots. According to them, Assam-based taxis have claimed a disproportionate share of the tourism trade and restricting their movements would benefit local drivers.
This demand is not a new one but the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxis Association staged a protest at Khyndailad here recently to highlight the issue.
The state government, however, is not in favour of the move. Lyngdoh pointed out that such restrictions might prompt Assam to take reciprocal measures, which could negatively affect the movement and increase the expenses of Meghalayans who depend on Assam for access to airports, railways and hospitals.
“What if Assam decides to impose strict rules against people from Meghalaya? Who will take responsibility if our people cannot travel to airports, railways or hospitals?” Lyngdoh said.
A state government-constituted committee led by a senior civil servant has already been set up to look into the taxi drivers’ concerns and he urged them to use that platform instead of escalating tensions. Several rounds of talks have already been held. Opposing the tourist taxi associations are other tourism stakeholders who fear that such a restriction on outside vehicles will put off tourists from visiting Meghalaya.
Lyngdoh said the present conflict has arisen because the tourism sector is growing. “Earlier, when tourism was small, we never heard such demands. Now, as the sector grows, more people want to share the benefits,” he added.
