By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 11: Seeking to institutionalise the year-end holiday rush, the Meghalaya government is drafting a first-of-its-kind ‘Christmas Tourism Policy’ to transform the state’s indigenous festivities into a structured global product while pivoting focus toward the long-neglected Garo Hills.
The state government is considering a dedicated policy to capitalise on the heavy tourist footfall as witnessed especially during the Christmas and New Year season this year, Tourism Minister Timothy D Shira said on Saturday.
The minister claimed that last year had been particularly successful due to a series of events organised across different parts of the state, which helped draw large numbers of visitors. The government, he said, expects tourist arrivals to increase further in 2026, especially with several tourism destinations and projects nearing completion.
The minister said the proposed policy is aimed at strengthening Meghalaya’s position as a preferred festive destination, allowing visitors to experience the state’s unique Christmas celebrations. He said the initiative would focus on structured promotion and better visitor management during the peak festive season.
The Garo Hills tilt
Shira said tourist movement is also gradually extending to Garo Hills, supported by improvements in infrastructure, while adding that destinations in the region that were earlier difficult to access are now seeing increased interest from visitors.
On measures to promote tourism in Garo Hills, Shira said the government is prioritising improvement of road connectivity and communication infrastructure. He said poor road conditions in the past had discouraged tourists from travelling to many locations in the region.
He said with improved road infrastructure, tourists would now be able to access several destinations in Garo Hills more easily. The government also plans to be more liberal in providing loans to individuals seeking to construct homestays, which he said would expand accommodation options and further boost tourism in the region.
The minister said these initiatives are expected to ensure sustained growth of the tourism sector while spreading economic benefits more evenly across the state.
