SHILLONG, July 28 ? The Meghalaya Government has roped in the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to help promote and develop tourism and tourism-related activities so as to effectively tackle the growing problem of educated unemployment in the state. Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang told newspersons at the Secretariat Conference Hall here today, ?We are aware that lack of employment is behind the rise of insurgency in the state. It is also evident that tourism holds the key in generating a lot of employment potential in the state.?
It is in this context that an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the State-owned Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and ITDC about four months back to avail the latter?s expertise and consultancy services in attracting a good chunk of the tourism traffic in the country, comprising both domestic and foreign tourists, to the state. In the first phase, the State Government proposes to develop infrastructural facilities at identified spots at Jorabat, Nongpoh, Sumer, Barapani, Shillong and Cherrapunjee, as these places have easy accessibility from Guwahati.
Senior ITDC officials, who were present at the press conference, revealed that the agency would present a ?Concept Paper? broadly outlining what needs to be done to promote tourism in the identified circuit. After detailed discussions with the State Government on the ?Concept Paper?, the ITDC will formulate a ?Master Plan? which is expected to be ready within 45 days.
Among the projects proposed by Meghalaya are a tourist information centre at Byrnihat, the gateway to Meghalaya and wayside amenities at Nongpoh and a recreational complex at Barapani.
Beautification of the key tourist spots in Shillong are also included in the schemes being proposed to be executed. A tourist resort at Cherrapunjee is also being planned. Minister for Tourism, Deborah C Marak announced that beginning today the Shillong-Kolkata flight will operate six times a week giving a big boost to tourism in the state.
?In August next, we will be holding a meeting with hoteliers and promoters in Delhi and Kolkata to dispel wrong notions among the people outside that Meghalaya is not a safe tourist destination.? She appealed to the media to project a positive image about the state so that more tourists get attracted to visit the state. MTDC Chairman, Charles Pyngrope, Tourism Commissioner and Secretary Hector Marwein and Tourism Director, Himalaya Shangpliang were also present at the press conference.