Conrad launches ‘The Travellers Nest’ to boost state’s tourism

SHILLONG, Aug 16: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma along with Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Wednesday inaugurated tourism amenities titled ‘The Travellers Nest’ at Kyiem village in Mawphlang, East Khasi Hills.
The Kyiem Traveler’s Nest is a project funded by the Meghalayan Age Limited through the Meghalaya Rural Tourism Cooperative Federation Ltd with an investment of Rs 94 lakh.
The Travellers Nest has five cottages and a restaurant to cater to the need of visitors.
Mawphlang is known for sacred groves and is a sought-after tourism destination nestled about 28 km from Shillong.
The inauguration marks a crucial milestone in the state government’s efforts to foster community participation to promote sustainable tourism. After inaugurating the infrastructure, the CM highlighted the importance of community engagement in driving the state’s economic model.
“Our strength lies in community involvement, which we are leveraging for our economic model,” he emphasised.
Highlighting the collective responsibility of various stakeholders – including the government, community, and public at large – he said, “Meghalaya’s progress cannot be achieved in isolation. Every stakeholder has a role to play and identifying these roles while keeping the ultimate goal in mind is crucial”.
Asserting that the government is working to promote the potentials of Meghalaya as a shining example of sustainable economic growth, driven by community strengths, he said, “We are building an economy and livelihood based on our state’s strengths. This model is one we wish to showcase to the world.”
Talking further about the tourism sector, the CM expressed his optimism about the role of initiatives like The Travellers Nest.
“Tourism is a key sector for us. Our goal is to create close to one lakh job opportunities in the sector through various interventions by stakeholders,” Sangma added.
He also informed the gathering about the significance of improved road infrastructure in the state. He said that the ongoing improvement and construction of road from Mawphlang to Weiloi is testimony of government’s commitment to prioritising road connectivity.
Sangma expressed confidence that Meghalaya’s relentless efforts would result in a prosperous and sustainable future.
“We are on a path to success and our progress is underpinned by community participation and collaboration. Together, we are shaping a brighter tomorrow for Meghalaya,” he stressed.
During the programme, he flagged off eight Prime Tourism Vehicles.