SHILLONG, Sep 19: Frequent disturbances and the resulting fear are hurting tourism in Meghalaya that relies heavily on this sector.
Parambir Singh Sehdave, president of the Federation of Shillong Hotels, lamented that there have been some cancellations of hotel bookings after tourist taxis from Assam were prevented from ferrying passengers to tourist destinations.
He said this scared many Assam-based tourist vehicle drivers and they are not coming to Shillong.
Stating that a tourist using a premium vehicle will want to continue his journey in the same vehicle and with the same driver as it is cost effective, Sehdave said it becomes more expensive if a tourist changes his vehicle at every location.
He recalled that there was a similar “blockade” in the Umtyngar area last year which provoked retaliation from the tour operators in Assam who are now planning to divert tourists to Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. He said Meghalaya recorded a bad occupancy rate during June-July, the peak tourist season, and the recent restrictions further affected the hospitality sector.
Stating that tourists and tour operators want a flawless itinerary for themselves, he said with too many hiccups in Meghalaya, many operators are now offering states like Arunachal as a destination to visitors.
“We don’t want the flow of tourists to be disturbed. Creating blockades will only hurt the tourism industry which has already taken a beating,” he further stated.
Heritage body sounds alarm
Amid ongoing strike by the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) across the state and in the wake of the hullabaloo at Jorabat on Thursday, the Heritage Committee of Khun Kur Longtrai Lai Kynthei has highlighted the serious and immediate consequences of the prevailing situation on the tourism sector, which, it claimed, is intrinsically linked to the cultural and economic livelihood of countless local communities.
Expressing concern over the reported ban on tourist vehicles from Assam entering key destinations in Meghalaya, the committee said, “As we are aware, a significant portion of tourists visiting Meghalaya travel by road from neighboring Assam, including Guwahati and other areas. The current restriction on Assam-registered tourist vehicles from entering destinations such as Sohra, Pynursla, Dawki, Shillong and others is not only discouraging tourist inflow, but also generating fear, confusion, and negative publicity, both on social media and in travel forums.”
The committee, however, acknowledged the right of the taxi associations to voice their grievances and understand their concerns regarding operational challenges.
The committee maintained that the current situation has resulted in widespread cancellation of bookings in homestays, resorts and sites; loss of income for local artisans, guides, transporters, and traditional performers; disruption to ongoing cultural documentation efforts supported by domestic and international heritage researchers; and long-term risk to Meghalaya’s image as a peaceful and tourist-friendly destination.
Stating that tourism is not only an economic activity but also a vehicle for the preservation of indigenous heritage and community pride, the committee said that prolonged disruption could have a devastating impact on rural communities that rely on tourist engagement for sustaining local traditions and crafts.
The panel has called upon the government to intervene for the safety of the visitors by striking a balance between safety and accessibility.
