SHILLONG: The state is set to host the Meghalayan Age Festival 2020 in the picturesque Thadlaskein area in West Jaintia Hills later this year.
Announcing this in Jowai, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, said that the iconic tourism event aims to brand Meghalaya of its ultimate high-end tourism potential.
The nine-day Meghalayan Age Festival will be tentatively held from March 7 to 15.
“We are living in the Meghalayan Era and the world needs to be informed about this. Through this festival, we will brand Meghalaya and invite visitors to experience the state in a different style. We are putting different activities, music and cultural events to make this event a memorable one,” the chief minister said.
The highlights of this event, which will be held with an idea to promote high-end tourism, include hot-air balloons, caving and glamping.
Glamping is being held for the first time in the state, where 50 five-star luxury tents will be put up for visitors, who can enjoy five-star facilities in the tent and enjoy the festival.
For caving activities, different caves in the district have been identified and the government would target high-end tourists from the festival.
“We want to promote Meghalaya in a very big way and the Meghalayan Age Festival is just the beginning of our ambitious tourism plan,” the chief minister said, adding that the fest would increase the level of luxury tourism in the state.
The chief minister also said during the festival, the state government will showcase achievers from the state chosen from different fields, such as farming, education, health care, sports, business and develop stories around them and link their stories to Meghalaya.
The government has invited tender for organising the world-class festival and the firm quoted Rs 2.6 crore for the festival.
Cash transportation rules
The Cabinet, on Tuesday, approved the rules regarding the Meghalaya Private Security Agency cash transportation activities.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the state government was asked to have rules for the cash transportation activities.
He also said that the one aspect of the rule is about the safety of those agencies which transport cash to ATMs and even to any bank branch and the rules will be in place to make sure that transportation of cash is safe and it reaches its destination on time.
Jowai meet snippets
MoA for homestays
The state Cabinet approved the draft Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Tourism department and Airbnb, an online marketplace for arranging or offering lodging, primarily homestays or tourism experiences.
Prestone Tynsong said that the idea behind the move is to revamp the homestays and any other related activity to attract tourists to visit Meghalaya.
Real estate regulation norms
The Cabinet approved the Meghalaya Real Estate Regulation and Development General Rules 2020.
Union Government had passed the Act in 2016 and Meghalaya had to prepare the rules which were approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday.
The rules also speak about the setting up of Real Estate Regulatory Authority and Real Estate Appellate Tribunal.