SHILLONG: In the aftermath of state’s tourism sector being hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, on Friday conferred about ways and means to facilitate travel so as to enhance domestic tourism with Union Tourism and Culture Minister, Prahlad Singh Patel.
During the meeting, which was called by Patel, Conrad apprised the Union minister of several initiatives taken by the state to promote tourism.
Conrad also discussed the measures being adopted for the safety of tourists as the state gears up to open for tourism after a months-long COVID-instigated hiatus.
Conrad said the state has prepared itself to cater to tourists and has also inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with a private airline company to operationalise flights from Delhi to Shillong, which would further boost tourism.
“Direct flights from Delhi to Shillong and from Shillong to other state capitals in the North East will open up a huge tourism market,” an optimistic chief minister said.
He further informed that 22 million outbound tourists from India, who usually look for high-end tourism destinations outside, can take advantage of the low-risk COVID-19 situation in the North East and explore the scenic and natural beauty of the region.