By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) has condemned the assault of two tourists during the Khasi Awakening Day rally at Laitumkhrah on April 4.
In a statement issued here on Monday, MTDF general secretary IA Khongmen said that the recent violence, occurring on the evening of April 4, has sent a wrong message to all travelers who plan to visit Shillong and other tourist destinations in the State. “MTDF condemns the reported vandalism of some shops and the incident of assault of tourists during the Khasi Awakening Day rally on the same evening,” the statement added.
The MTDF said that the Forum supports the need to preserve the ethnic identity of the State, but the targeting of innocent tourists would be very detrimental to the hard earned image of the State as a vibrant tourist destination.
According to Khongmen, such unwarranted assault on innocent tourists heralds a certain kind of negativity which is translated into parochialism and a mindset that is antithesis to the promotion of developmental activities, particularly in the Tourism industry.
Pointing out that through the coordinated effort of the Tourism department and other departments of the Government, NGOs, Dorbar Shnong, entrepreneurs and stakeholders, the State has seen a rise in profitable tourist related ventures, the MTDF said that an enabling environment will have to be created, nurtured and preserved if the State is to effectively compete with other established tourist destinations.
“We appeals to the younger generation of the State to be more proactive and enterprising and to grab the opportunities that the Tourism sector has to offer,” the statement added.
It may be recalled that two tourists from West Bengal- Britesh Sinha and Arup Kundu – were assaulted in full public view during the KSU rally on Thursday last.