JOWAI/NONGPOH/SHILLONG, Sep 27: In keeping with its years-long tradition, the Mutong Tourism and Environment Protection Society, in Mutong, a village in East Jaintia Hills with unique landscapes and picturesque mountains, celebrated World Tourism Day on Monday which was marked by a programme that included morning trekking trip and other activities.
Students of the Jaintia Eastern College and members of Meghalaya Wushu Association as well as hundreds of local residents partook in the activities.
Local MLA and Minister in charge of Social Welfare and Revenue and Disaster Management, Kyrmen Shylla, who was the chief guest on the occasion, lauded the organizers of the programme even as he focussed on vaccination as a key factor for tourism kick start again.
The minister was accompanied by Jaintia Eastern College Principal Dr. Phervision Nongtdu besides District Magistrates including F Wann and D Lyngdoh and Khliehriat BDO Dr. T Shylla.
“Let us work together and let us welcome all those who visit us as they come to help us socially and economically,” Shylla said.
The minister also revealed that a proposal for a bridge from Lumshymrmit to Skhen Talang is on cards. The bridge will help the people of the area to connect with War Jaintia (Amlarem Sub-Division), he added.
Moopun Falls, Kailangdong and Sahksaw are few of the tourist attractions in the district.
Programme at Marngar Lake
Meanwhile in Ri Bhoi, a programme was organised at the historic Marngar Lake by the Ri Bhoi Tourism and Environmental Development Forum in collaboration with the Marngar Eco Tourism & Cultural Development Society.
Ri Bhoi Tourism officer, B Nongkynrih, attended the programme as chief guest in the presence of the Syiem of Raid Marngar, Richard Syiem, headmen besides leaders of the two organisations.
It was informed at the programme that in 2022, when the Ri Bhoi Tourism and Environmental Development Forum will turn 10, several festivals and events will be organised.
Few of these proposed festivals include the Ri Bhoi Festival at Kurkalang ground, Bhoirymbong, which will showcase the traditions and culture of all the Raid of Ri Bhoi, and Niangtaser Festival at Iewsier.
NEHU commemorates day
At the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), World Tourism Day was celebrated by the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management, which organised a series of virtual events to commemorate the day.
A panel discussion was also organised to deliberate over this year’s UNWTO World Tourism Day theme. CVD Diengdoh, Director, Tourism department, Dr. Kiran Shinde, La Trobe University, Australia, Naveen Rizvi from ICPB, Gaurav Agrawal from Marriott International, Jayanta Das, General Manager, Vivanta, Guwahati, PS Sehdave, president, Federation of Shillong Hotels, RK Suman, Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and EB Blah, president, North East India Tourism Confederation, were invited as panellists.
In addition to this tourism quiz and debate competitions were also organised in which teams from different university departments and colleges participated.
The team from St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, won the Tourism Quiz, whereas Sagar Das from Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, won the debate completion.
The team from the department stood second in both the competitions.
