The International Tourism Mart – the 11th edition, is a great opportunity for promoting and cashing in on high end tourism. 28 international delegations from 18 countries and 50 buyers from different parts of the country makes this a great event that needs to be cashed in considering that tourism is a clean industry barring the footfalls which nature can take care of provided the necessary regulations are in place. Tourism now has to transcend the traditional concept of being destination bound and capturing the sights and sounds of this favoured destination. 28 international delegations from 18 countries and 50 buyers from different parts of the country. Foreigners are known to travel in groups to states like Goa and to stay there for months together because they love the place and its culture. Meghalaya needs to emulate some of these examples where people come, stay and become part of the local milieu for several months because they just love the ecosystem. This is where the homestay concept comes in. Homestays also mean more work generated for women who need to cook and clean and who also perhaps own the homestays and are earning a today sum to run their families.
Homestays are a good model for sustainable tourism because there are long term gains. Tourists who come and want to learn and immerse themselves in the culture and practices of the people here, especially the rural folks would love these homestays. The Meghalaya Government has been promoting homestays by assisting those with enough space to create additional rooms to accommodate guests. While hotels have their charm for short stays; those with the idea of an immersive experience would love homestays provided there are story-telling sessions and some musical evenings somewhere around the place of stay. This is where tourism can bring spin-offs for more people. Most tourists love to visit places where traditional crafts are made and in the case of Meghalaya the weaving villages like Umden would be a great attraction. Women weaving the beautiful eri silk is in itself a story to be told. From boiling the cocoon of the eri silk worm to turning that into yarn and then to the weaving and the natural dyeing process is what makes the eri (ryndia) so precious a finished product. Eri silk has already found its way far and wide in the country and abroad and its sale could reach a wider clientele when tourists carry their stories by word of mouth.
Women-led tourism activities where women become the main stakeholders and create services they can provide such as massage and other healing practices is what tourism demands. People come to relax and tourists don’t mind spending their money on a relaxing massage the Khasi style. That’s what draws tourists to Kerala. Perhaps there is a need to reimagine tourism that offers visitors a whole range of pleasant experiences.
