Meghalaya announces tourism policy

SHILLONG, February 15: Meghalaya Government today announced a tourism policy in a bid to attract private investments in the sagginng tourism sector. The policy approved by the State Cabinet in a meeting today offers a whole range of incentives and subsidies on private investments, publicity, power generation, etc, State Finance and IPR Minister AH Scott Lyngdoh told newsmen. He said "the policy is intended to give a big fillip to the economy of the State and also generate additional employment opportunities." All new "units" will also be eligible for exemption from sales tax for a period of five years from the date of commencement of commercial operation. Scott Lyngdoh, who is also the Government spokesman, informed that the policy goes into force with immediate effect. Replying to a question, he said "the State received 1,55,000 domestic tourists and over 2,000 foreign tourists during the year 2000." He denied there has been a fall in the number of tourist arrivals in the State owing to law and order problems. He, however, admitted that a proper security environment was imperative to attract more tourists to the State. "The proposal to create a special "tourist police" force to provide security to the tourists is still under consideration of the Government," he said. The Cabinet also decided to constitute a State-level small farmers Agro-Business Consortium and to create a separate Directorate of Irrigation in order to promote agriculture sector presently in a slump.