SHILLONG, July 27: Calling tourism a ‘proven engine for economic growth,’ Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem has strongly advocated for increased investment in developing unexplored tourist destinations across Ri-Bhoi district—a region he described as both the gateway to Meghalaya and an emerging attraction in its own right.
Syiem noted that government allocations over the past three budget cycles—2023–24, 2024–25, and 2025–26—clearly reflect a commitment to boosting the tourism and wellness sectors. This support, he said, is already yielding results, with a steady rise in tourist footfall despite the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He emphasised that Ri-Bhoi’s tourism potential goes well beyond established sites like Umiam Lake and the State Biological Park. With the growing popularity of newer destinations such as Marngar Lake and the development of a new resort, the district is steadily diversifying its tourism offerings.
Highlighting government support for entrepreneurs through schemes like CM Elevate and other start-up initiatives, Syiem said such efforts are helping to energise the tourism landscape and generate economic opportunities at the grassroots level.
As a legislator, he shared that he has identified additional locations suitable for tourism development and has already submitted proposals to the government.
Syiem expressed hope that these proposals will be taken into consideration, paving the way for Ri-Bhoi to become a key contributor in driving Meghalaya’s economic transformation through tourism.
