Shillong, May 6: The Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, on Wednesday organised a grand event at Orchid Lake Resort, Umiam, to celebrate and empower grassroots “Tourism Champions” while announcing major initiatives to strengthen the state’s tourism ecosystem.
A major highlight of the programme was the rollout of government support under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission, which aims to create 3,000 new homestays and generate over 15,000 jobs by 2028. During the event, sanction letters were distributed to the first batch of approved beneficiaries under the scheme.
The government also announced support under the Community-Led Tourism Infrastructure Scheme, with funding of up to ₹3.40 crore sanctioned for 58 new beneficiaries. The grants, ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹20 lakh depending on tourist footfall, are aimed at improving local tourism infrastructure across the state.
The event further recognised the success of the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) Homestay Scheme, under which ₹115.68 crore has been sanctioned and ₹102 crore disbursed to over 900 beneficiaries so far. The top ten performing homestay hosts in the state were awarded cash prizes of ₹20,000 each.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said Meghalaya has firmly established itself on the tourism map of the country and internationally. He stressed that tourism growth depends on building a complete ecosystem rather than focusing on isolated events or programmes.
The Chief Minister informed that the runway expansion work at Umroi Airport is expected to be completed within the next 15 months, significantly improving connectivity. He also highlighted several upcoming tourism projects, including the Shillong Ropeway, the Rain Museum at Mawsynram, and new tourism centres in Sohra and other locations.
Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira stated that tourism has emerged as a major driver of Meghalaya’s economy, with tourist footfall reaching nearly 18 lakh visitors. He said more than 150 tourism projects backed by large-scale investments are currently being implemented across the state.
The programme also focused on youth empowerment and capacity building in the hospitality sector. Scholarships and stipend support were announced for students of the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) under the Chief Minister Hospitality Scheme.
In a special moment during the event, the Chief Minister presented a Bravery Award to Mr. Teiborlang Pakma, a Tourism Buddy, for his courage and selfless service to society.
The government also sanctioned projects for the construction, modification, and upgradation of toilets at tourist destinations across Meghalaya to improve visitor experience.
