By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 15: With Shillong in its peak tourism season due to blooming cherry blossoms and related festivals, hotels here are reportedly witnessing near-full occupancy as tourists from across India are flocking to the state capital.
According to a hotelier, most city hotels are 100 per cent booked, with demand driving up room prices significantly.
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh has, however, maintained that there is no shortage of accommodations in the city.
It may be mentioned that the two-day Cherry Blossom Festival has attracted between 50,000 and 60,000 visitors, contributing to the surge in tourism.
Amid the festivities, traffic congestion remains a persistent issue in Shillong, with many tourists expressing frustration over the same.
Popular spots like Wards Lake have become crowd magnets, with visitors eager to admire the blooming cherry blossom trees.
Despite the enthusiasm, Shillong’s cherry blossoms have faced criticism for their scattered and uneven growth compared to countries like Japan, where the festival is celebrated against the backdrop of uniformly blooming trees.
When the idea of the Cherry Blossom Festival was first proposed in 2014-15, there were plans to plant cherry blossom trees along the route from Umiam to Shillong.
However, this vision has not materialised, leaving only a few cherry blossom trees visible along this stretch of road.