How sustainable is the tourism industry in Meghalaya and is tourism the mainstay of families in areas that beckon tourists such as Sohra, Laitlum and Dawki? This question is pertinent considering the recent downturn in tourist footfalls. Meghalaya is notorious for its copycat economy. When someone’s enterprise runs well, another person will set up the very same enterprise not too distant from the first one and as a result both enterprises will be vying for the same set of customers and hence the sales drop and affect both enterprises. This is visible across several businesses but more so in the number of homestays/guest houses that have emerged in the last few years. In Sohra every few hundred yards there are homestays/guest houses and most of them wear a forlorn look these days. Lesser known places like Kongthong which once drew travellers because of the unique name tune that women give their children, now seem a wee bit dreary with their guest houses remaining empty even on weekends. The reason could also be that not enough has been imagined for travellers to spend their time meaningfully. But the Tourism Department of the Government has come up with more prized accommodation in Kongthong and adjoining areas in the hope that they will have full occupancy.
Every tourist destination suffers from what is called the ‘tourism fatigue syndrome.’ Destination loyalty which means tourists revisiting a place is what most tour operators bank on but even the most avid tourist will find that overcrowded destinations lose their charm. For most tourists the silence of a sacred grove gives them the experience they cherish because they come from loud and crowded cities. They just want to lose themselves in the silence. Unfortunately, the large number of visitors to the Mawphlang Sacred Grove has turned it into a noisy space. This is the result of not controlling footfalls – a case of over-tourism and a tourist destination that has exceeded its carrying capacity. This is the case with many destinations in Meghalaya. Mass tourism has all but killed the tourism experience of those looking for peace amidst the waterfalls and verdant hills. The Double Decker Living Root Bridge at Nongriat is now as noisy as a marketplace with tourists thronging there because the promoters don’t want to enforce a carrying capacity limit. Greed often takes over reason and this is true of all destinations in Meghalaya today. It’s a case of making hay while the sun shines as if the sun might suddenly set.
Also. in terms of resource sharing, how is the community benefitting from the presence of guest houses and homestays? What is the community getting in return for the intrusion and loss of privacy? Local communities are expected to be welcoming towards every tourist but that is a mutual thing. Tourists too must earn respect from their behaviour. Most tourists act like they own the place and show no respect for local sensibilities. Tourism in Meghalaya has been sold much before locals were ready for it and the fatigue is showing.
