TURA: In a move to promote and boost sustainable tourism in the state more than 50 domestic and foreign Tour Operators were invited on Sunday to an interactive meeting with Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma at Tura Circuit House.
Addressing the gathering Dr Sangma said that the exercise is a humble beginning in the partnership with the Tour Operators in discovering Meghalaya.
He said that North East need to come together to develop products attractively and that the government of Meghalaya is engaging with the North Eastern states and the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Bhutan.
He also informed that villages based on themes are being created in the state to develop Tourism.
The Tours Operators from India and abroad while sharing their views and suggestions said that the hospitality of the people was excellent and it gave a sence of being home.
Michael Dooley from Ireland commented that the State had a marvellous asset in the form of friendly people.
However all the tour operators felt that the infrastructure specially the road connectivity needs to be improved so that the journey from Guwahati and Shillong is not strenuous on the tourists.
The tour operators felt that the problem of trained cab drivers and guides and the need of government regulation on taxi fares, hotels, resorts and entry fees were some of the issues that need to be looked into.
Tour operators from Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, UK, Milan, Auckland, Lyon, Seol, Ireland, Frankfurt, Singapore, Tel Aviv, Durban, Thailand, Delhi, Bangladesh, New Delhi, Banglore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Howrah, Kolkata, Sikkim, Imphal, Tripura, Siliguri, Mizoram and Shillong were among those present at the interaction.
