By Brave Well Mawthoh
The tourism industry plays a pivotal role in a country’s economic growth and development. Its far-reaching impact can be felt both directly and indirectly. Its significance is evident through its contribution to various channels such as foreign exchange earnings, infrastructure investment, economic stimulation, employment and income, tax revenues, and sectoral impacts. At the local level, investment in tourist sites can provide community members with jobs and income generation opportunities. Ecotourism and rural tourism are increasingly popular ventures that preserve both human and animal habitats. Tourism, being a labour-intensive industry, presents a promising opportunity for employment generation.
Meghalaya, a land of unique and mesmerizing beauty, is renowned for its pristine rivers and unspoiled natural environment that offer a healing balm to the mind and soul. The lush green hills and the breathtaking view from the plateau leave an indelible impression. The waterfalls and streams ignite the imagination, while the geologically rich and mysterious caves promise a thrilling and exuberant experience. Its rich and diverse culture, comprising three major tribes, adds a unique charm to this enchanting land, enriching the experience for all who visit.A recent study by Deepti Singh and Qamar Alam underscores the long-run impact of the tourism industry in India. It spotlights the positive impact of foreign tourist inflows, government expenditures, and investment in tourism industries in the long run. They also detailed some crucial statistics that reflect sanguine prospects for the industry. A percentage increase in tourism expenditures by the government, investment in tourism industries, and foreign tourist arrivals will lead to an uptick of about 8.457%, 2.538%, and 2.44%, respectively, in the country’s GDP in the long run. The contribution of the Travel and Tourism sector to global GDP in 2023 was 9.1%, and it accounted for about 10.5% of all jobs (334 million). For pan India, the contribution towards GDP is 6.5% and accounts for 8.9% (42.94 million) of all jobs. A study by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) suggests a positive relationship between tourism and GDP growth. While there is no conclusive evidence of a causal relationship between the two, a few studies hinted at a long-run economic growth effect, offering hope for the future of Meghalaya’s economy.
The tourism industry of Meghalaya is valued at Rs 1,600 crore (approx.191 million), and as per the government’s projection, it is expected to surge to 12,000 crore (approx. 1.5 billion) by 2028. In 2023, about 15 lakh domestic and foreign tourists visited the state, and the number is projected to increase to 20 lakh in 2028. Unsurprisingly, the contribution of tourism to the state’s GSDP is merely 4.1%, and it accounts for about 2.87% of the total employment. Among many others, one plausible reason could be that most of the tourist sites are clustered in the district of East Khasi Hills, even though the entire region of the state has various potential tourist sites. Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills, for instance, have numerous potential tourist sites which can attract visitors. Many of the tourist sites in these two regions remain unexplored and untapped.
It is nothing sort of blowing the gaff that tourism activities in the state have taken a back seat due to poor infrastructural development. Different tourist sites’ have carved a swath of temptation to visit the state. Nonetheless, the long journey to the tourist sites, accompanied by frequent encounters with heavy traffic, discourages both domestic and foreign tourists from visiting the state. Factors such as a comfortable stay, good experiences, nostalgic memories, and reasonable prices prompt tourists to revisit the place and induce them to recommend family members and friends to visit. At the top of the pile, the prosperity of tourism depends upon the existence of social and political stability. Tourist inflow is highly sensitive to violence and instability. Any such perceived incident drives tourists to cancel their plans to visit the state.
In addition, the government should bring about a structure to monitor and regulate the prices of all tourism service providers such as hotels, restaurants, tourist operators, and transportation services. Low crime rates and religious and communal harmony are also important aspects to look closely at. The local populace should be sensitized about the significance of tourism and its manifold potentialities. As evident recently, any untoward incident disrupting the tourism industry came home to roost with declining tourist footfalls. To capitalize on the immense potentiality of tourism, we need to turn our attitude towards people outside the state on its head, and the time has come for us to do away with our xenophobic disposition. Efforts should be made to promote local cuisine and culinary tourism, hence doing away with ‘Maggi noodles tourism’. A recent study conducted by Mehraj Din Wani and others in Kashmir Valley highlights the contribution of local food to sustainable tourism. Consumption of local food by tourists positively impacts economic, cultural, and environmental sustainability.
Tourism offers an excellent opportunity for employment and income generation. It generates the benefits of both backward and forward linkages. The government and the citizenry must step up to the plate and ensure we do not misstep. Tourism activities, if not managed sustainably, lead to environmental degradation, which is primarily due to over-exploitation of tourism resources. Even though there is no conclusive evidence of tourism’s positive or negative effect on environmental pollution, sustainable economic growth and development require prudent public policy and government efforts to promote socially and environmentally responsible tourism. Community participation, involvement of the local population, institutions, and stakeholders is critical for the proper management and sustainability of tourism activities.
(The writer is Assistant Professor, Don Bosco College, Tura)