By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 22: The Cherry Blossom Festival held in November last year pulled in 22,991 tourists to Meghalaya, of which 1,269 fell under the high-end tourist category.
A breakdown of tourist accommodations reveals that 1,269 tourists opted for premium category accommodations, which included renowned establishments such as Vivanta, Marriott, and Ri Kynjai.
Additionally, a substantial number of visitors, totaling 15,205, chose mid-range hotels like Tripura Castle, Poinisuk and M Crown for their stay. Moreover, 6,517 tourists availed themselves of the homestays and guesthouses during their visit.
This was informed by Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, on the fifth day of the legislative assembly, while replying to a starred question put up by North Shillong legislator, Adelbert Nongrum.
Tax revenue generated from all hotels in Meghalaya for the month of November 2023 amounted to Rs 1.44 crore. October 2023 saw a tax revenue of Rs 1.36 crore.
Further, Nongrum raised queries regarding the nature of tourists attending the festival and the collection of tax revenue. In response, the Lyngdoh clarified that tourists who stayed overnight, spanning across premium accommodations, mid-range hotels, homestays, and guesthouses, were considered high-value tourists in line with the state’s tourism policy.
Visitors who attended the festival for the day and departed the same day were not classified as high-value tourists.
Regarding the collection of tax revenue, the Minister affirmed that the data provided was comprehensive, detailing the number of tourists accommodated in various establishments.