NORTH-EAST is often described as nature’s paradise with all the eight states providing plenty to the tourists. Tourism which could emerge as the major revenue earner for the North-Eastern states is still not part of the itinerary of the domestic and international tourists due to lack of planning and adequate infrastructure. 56 years is too long a period not to have developed the industry which would have helped the region to remove the tag of backwardness. However, the Meghalaya Government is finally preparing a master plan to boost tourism which would create employment opportunities for the youth who otherwise have been forced to take up guns.

The State Government has roped in the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to help prepare the master plan for the Centre’s perusal which is to be completed within two months. Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader from the region D D Lapang said the tourism department has drawn up the first phase of the master plan with the help of the ITDC. The ITDC is involved in a big way in the development of tourism in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Daman and Diu, Tamil Nadu, Gujrat, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. Mr. Lapang said the tourism department would soon sort out the pending ‘’Hotel Crow Borough Project’’ dispute with the construction agency. Action was being taken by the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to settle the dispute, he added. ITDC experts recently visited various places to explore the possibilities of developing tourism in the State. Vice-president (Engineering) Niraj Bachkheti and D N Dua, Deputy General Manager (Engineering) held wide ranging detailed discussions for development of various Tourist Spots in Meghalaya broadly covering the entrance to the state from Guwahati, wayside amenities between Guwahati-Shillong-Cherrapunjee, tourism related activities at Barapani(Umium Lake), Shillong and Cherrapunjee.

The ITDC officials had stated that the projects had been identified for which a detailed project reports will be submitted. Based on the detailed project reports, the state proposes to get assistance from Union Ministry of Tourism for development of Circuit (Rs 8 crore) and development of destination (Rs 5 Crore). The proposed first phase projects includes among others the tourist information Centre at Byrnihat, wayside amentities at Nongpoh, Dhaba at Sumer, Health club, a recreational complex, swimming pool and ropeway at Barapani, lake boat houses, Hydari park beautification, Kiosks at Shillong peak, elephant falls beautification and lighting, Bishop falls beautification and a ropeway at Lowen. At Cherrapunjee, wayside amenities would be available at Mawjrong, tourist resort with conference Hall would be built besides a theme park, toy train and childrens’ park and illumination of seven falls would be done after studying the technical feasibility besides caves and other tourist attraction spots.

As part of the Meghalaya government’s master  plan to promote tourism, Indian Airlines recently doubled the frequency of its flights from three days to six days a week between Kolkata and Shillong. State Tourism Minister Deborah C Marak said request had been made to connect Shillong-Aizawl and Shillong-Silchar. She said flights from Kolkata to Shillong need to fly via Bagdogra as several tourists visit North Bengal and Sikkim who can also visit the Meghalaya capital easily. The minister said a meeting would be held at New Delhi on August 17 with tourist operators, promoters and hoteliers to revamp the tourism potentiality of Meghalaya and a similar meeting will be held at Kolkata and other places.

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