From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI, May 31: NITI Aayog has identified Meghalaya as one of the few all-season travel destinations of the country owing to its unique caves, living root bridges and indigenous traditions which draw visitors throughout the year.
NITI Aayog’s 2026 report, “Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India,” said tourist arrivals in Meghalaya climbed from around 1.2 million in 2018 to more than 1.6 million in 2025. The state is targeting 2.1 million visitors by 2028.
The report said that travellers were increasingly seeking authentic human connections alongside scenic experiences. Meghalaya’s culture and hospitality are now driving economic growth in the region.
The report specifically flagged states including Meghalaya as leading examples of all-season tourism hubs, driven heavily by its community-based homestay infrastructure. Living root bridges, caves and distinct indigenous traditions are also attracting travellers.
More visitors also meant more pressure on accommodation. Rather than waiting on large hotel projects, the government moved to expand its homestay base as a faster way to add rooms while directing income to local households.
The Meghalaya Tourism Homestay Scheme was launched in 2023, tied to the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program. It covers up to 70 per cent of project costs for properties worth up to $10,500. Government figures show that 900 applications were sanctioned, resulting in more than 490 operational homestays, around 1,000 rooms and nearly 1,500 jobs created, the report said.
In September last year, the state launched the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission, aiming to add 3,000 more homestays and create 15,000 jobs by 2028. Approvals have been granted in all 10 districts, with 80 applications cleared so far, helping address the shortage of hotel rooms in the state.
The homestay network is also expected to support the 39th National Games in 2027, with Meghalaya planning to house visitors through homestays rather than conventional games villages, keeping tourism revenue within local communities.
The state also lined up several projects, from the Shillong Ropeway and Mawkdok Skywalk to the Rain Museum in Mawsynram and a Living Root Bridge Museum. The Shillong Airport is also set to undergo a runway expansion which will improve air access to the state.
The report mapped out destinations by season, aligning them with different months of the year to encourage year-round travel, and to spread tourist footfall across seasons and regions to reduce pressure on overcrowded spots.
The report shifted focus from standard sightseeing toward immersive engagement with local community traditions and heritage. It promoted roughly 3,000 curated, lesser-known cultural, natural, and spiritual sites across all states and Union Territories to uplift local rural economies.
The report was developed by NITI Aayog’s Communication and Tourism & Culture division in close coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture. Tech and academic bodies like Airbnb and Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management also joined the initiative to help drive development in the tourism sector.
