SHILLONG, June 27: Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Friday claimed festivals and music shows have boosted the state’s economy since 2024.
He told reporters the state government had invested Rs 23.5 crore on the events and generated a total economic stimulus of Rs 133.42 crore.
According to Lyngdoh, the events collectively saw a footfall of 3.86 lakh visitors, 60,000 organic social media posts, and over 20 million digital views. He said the visitors came from across India, with significant numbers from Maharashtra and Odisha.
The air travel alone fetched over Rs 16.8 crore in aviation revenue, while cab services earned Rs 5.38 crore. The festivals pushed hotel occupancy to 100% in Shillong and Sohra, accounting for 27% of the total stimulus.
“For every Re 1 spent on tickets, an additional Rs 334 was generated across hospitality, travel and local shopping,” he said.
Now, as Meghalaya prepares for this year’s Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival which will feature popular American pop singer Jason Derulo and top UK band The Script, the state government will introduce synchronised LED wristbands.
Given the proximity of the venue which is Polo, the government wants to make the festival a walking experience. The stretch from Hotel Pinewood to Polo Grounds will be declared a pedestrian-only zone for the festival’s duration.
Jason Manners from Rockski said they are expecting 30,000 visitors every day at the Shillong Cherry Blossom festival. He said they would want to maintain quality over quantity, adding that tickets will be slightly more expensive.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya received two prestigious pan-Asian awards from WOW Awards Asia, one of the continent’s largest platforms for event recognition curated by EventFAQs and KPMG.
