Shillong Jottings

Raking in the Moolah

Shillong and the tourist spots in and around the capital city are chock-a-block with tourists. Vehicles with Assam registration numbers are being seen everywhere. The highways, the scenic view points and hotels, guest houses and homestays are filled to the brim with tourists and why not.
The state which boasts of some of the most mesmerising natural spots is an enchanting destination for visitors and the beauty is just enhanced by a few notches during the monsoon season.
There is greenery everywhere, the waterfalls flow in their full regale and the fog and mist makes it a heavenly experience for those coming to the city.
A large number of locals, dependent entirely on tourism, are having a great time welcoming tourists and making a decent living.
Picture perfect isn’t it? Sadly, the answer is a no.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” is what best describes the predicament of the city residents.
While there is no denying that tourism is the driving force behind the state’s economy, the narrow roads with the never-ending gridlock and the non-adherence to traffic rules by the visitors does create problems for the residents.
Just recently, a photo showing a vehicle from Assam stuck in a pedestrian lane in a city locality caught everyone’s attention. While the tourist was probably misled by Google Maps and the error was unintentional, it surely added to the discomfort of the locals.