Shillong: Meghalaya’s tourism sector is limping toward recovery. Tourist arrivals remain stuck below 30 percent of last year’s figures. The industry is still feeling the sting of the August 19 incident. September was a particularly bad month for business, worsened by the Puja season. Arrivals have crept up since then, but the sector remains far from healthy.
Allan West Kharkongor, President of the Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum, says the state is healing. He compared the current situation to a slow-closing wound. Changing travel habits and new competition also threaten the state's standing. Despite this, he remains confident that Meghalaya stays a preferred destination.
Local investment is booming. Over the last decade, residents have poured money and time into the sector. Hotels, cafes, and guest houses are popping up in Sohra, Mawlyndong, and Shillong. Young people are staying home to run these businesses instead of leaving for other states. Many entrepreneurs took out loans to open their doors, making stability vital for their survival.
Kharkongor urged groups to keep protests responsible. He claims that "protests should seek meaningful results without unnecessarily damaging the interests of the state." He pointed to a recent Garo Students’ Union (GSU) agitation in Delhi as a model. That protest secured a Union Minister's resignation without causing property damage or injuries. He warned that violence and disruption drive visitors away immediately. The state has too much at stake to let that happen again.
Comments