SHILLONG, May 22: Even as Meghalaya is targeting over 1.8 million tourists this year, the occupancy rate in Shillong hotels is not up to the mark during the peak tourist season of May-June.
Parambir Singh Sehdave, president of the Federation of Shillong Hotels, informed that the occupancy rate in Shillong hotels is currently 60-65 percent, whereas the tourist season usually begins by the end of April and hotels remain jam-packed in May.
Asked about the reason for the low occupancy, Parambir Singh Sehdave said there could be plenty of factors such as the recent conflict with Pakistan, too many properties in Shillong, or even the closure of tourist visas for Bangladeshis to India.
At present, Bangladeshi tourists are allowed to visit India only on a health visa.
He also mentioned that many tourists usually pre-book their stay in Shillong for the month of June, but that has not been the case this time.
