Shillong, May 6 (IANS) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday said that tourism in the hill state can succeed only when all stakeholders work together as part of a larger ecosystem, asserting that the government is focused on building Meghalaya into a globally recognised tourism destination.

Addressing the “Empowerment of Tourism Champions of Meghalaya” programme at Orchid Lake in Umiam, Sangma said tourism cannot thrive through the efforts of the government or individual stakeholders working in isolation. “Tourism thrives only when every stakeholder plays their part,” he said, adding that Meghalaya has made a strong beginning in creating a robust tourism ecosystem despite various challenges.

The event, organised by the state Tourism Department, brought together tourism entrepreneurs, artisans, students, community leaders and beneficiaries from across Meghalaya.

The Chief Minister said the government’s long-term vision was to ensure Meghalaya naturally emerged as a preferred travel destination for tourists across the country and abroad. “When families decide where they want to travel, Meghalaya must come to mind as an attractive and welcoming destination,” he said.

Sangma stressed that tourism growth depended not only on visibility and promotion but also on quality infrastructure, connectivity, safety and visitor experience. He said the government was investing heavily in tourism branding, festivals and major infrastructure projects to strengthen the sector.

Highlighting ongoing initiatives, he said several iconic projects, including the Shillong Ropeway, Mawkdok Skywalk, Rain Museum in Mawsynram, Living Root Bridge Museum and tourism centres in Sohra, Mandalgre and Siju, are currently under development.

In a major announcement, the Chief Minister said runway expansion work at Shillong Airport has now been officially awarded by the Government of India and is expected to be completed within 15 months, enabling larger aircraft operations.

“This will be a game changer for tourism in Meghalaya,” he said.

Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira said tourism has emerged as one of the strongest pillars of Meghalaya’s economy, with provisional figures showing nearly 18 lakh tourist arrivals in 2025. He informed that more than 150 tourism projects involving investments worth thousands of crores are currently being implemented across the state.

The programme also saw the distribution of sanction letters under various tourism and homestay schemes, scholarship support for hospitality students and recognition of tourism entrepreneurs and community stakeholders.

–IANS

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