Shillong, May 6: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today said that tourism is not just about events, hotels or cultural programes but about creating a complete ecosystem that inspires travellers to choose Meghalaya as their destination.
“When a family sits together and decides where they want to travel, Meghalaya must be visible. Meghalaya must be attractive. Meghalaya must be a destination that naturally comes to mind,” he said while addressing the ‘Empowerment of Tourism Champions of Meghalaya’ event held at Orchid Lake Resort, Umïam.
Stating that visibility alone is not enough, Sangma said that tourists also consider infrastructure, connectivity, safety, comfort and the overall quality of experience before choosing a destination.
“Our goal is simple – every tourist who visits Meghalaya should leave with memories of a lifetime,” he said.
Drawing from his own travel experience, the chief minister said memorable tourism experience are often shaped by simple human gestures rather than luxury alone.
Highlighting the State’s tourism roadmap, Sangma said that several iconic projects are currently underway including the Shillong Ropeway, the Mawkdok Skywalk in Sohra, the Rain Museum in Mawsynram, the Living Root Bridge Museum besides tourism centres in Sohra, Mandalgre and Siju.
The chief minister also informed that the expansion of Shillong Airport at Umroi has now moved forward with runway expansion project work officially alloted by the Government of India. According to him, the project is expected to be completed within 15 months and would allow larger aircraft to operate into Shillong. “This would be a game changer for tourism in Meghalaya,” he added.
Sangma also reminded that tourism in the State can succeed when every stakeholder works together as part of a larger ecosystem.
Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira while highlighting the growth of tourism sector in Meghalaya said that tourist footfall has increased significantly with provisional figures indicating 18 lakh visitors in 2025.
“Tourism is no longer simply about visitor arrivals – it has emerged as one of the strongest pillars of our State’s economy,” Shira said.