Tourists seek improved connectivity to Shillong

SHILLONG, May 21: Albeit the tourism sector in Meghalaya continues to boom, many tourists, just like the residents, are reportedly discontented with the issues surrounding connectivity to the state capital and frequent traffic jams, particularly around the Umiam stretch, where the repair of dam is under way.
According to Federation of Shillong Hotels president, Parambir Singh Sehdave, the occupancy rates in local hotels have seen a surge to an impressive 90-95 per cent.
However, Sehdave said many tourists were unhappy with the connectivity to the state capital. “Buses and travellers are coming from NEIGRIHMS side, which is a detour of 60 kilometre, and this is causing problems for tourists,” he told The Shillong Times.
This detour is causing considerable inconvenience, overshadowing the otherwise vibrant tourist season.
Additionally, visitors are calling for better air connectivity between Shillong and New Delhi.
Currently, SpiceJet operates limited flights on certain days of the week, which is insufficient for the high demand.
“Most of the people want better flight connectivity between Shillong and New Delhi,” Sehdave said.
It may be mentioned that the state government is in the process of inviting bids to operate a daily flight between Shillong and New Delhi, a move that could significantly enhance the region’s accessibility.
Further, the sudden cessation of flight services between Shillong and Agartala has also reportedly impacted weekend travel plans for many tourists from Agartala.