Meghalaya targets doubling tourism's economic impact by 2028, leveraging eco-tourism & festive visitations

The state has also invited proposals to launch direct flights from Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, to significantly boost domestic arrivals. Further, the government has earmarked about INR 4,000 crore for tourism, covering 50+ accommodation units, six iconic projects, wayside amenities and visitor facilities at key sites. Meghalaya Tourism’s Assistant Director, Philip F. Tariang, shares more in detail.

The northeastern state, also known as “abode of clouds”, Meghalaya, is pushing an eco-tourism driven expansion, backed by its booming festival economy and a decent pipeline of connectivity and infrastructure projects. The state has set a Vision 2028 to position the state as a preferred world-class eco-tourism destination with sustainability, employment and entrepreneurship at its core. “Our vision is to establish Meghalaya as a preferred eco-tourism destination by creating synergies, expanding our tourism products, and increasing the number of attractions. The Ministry of Tourism has supported us consistently in this journey,” said Philip F. Tariang, Assistant Director – Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, who has been part of the state’s tourism journey for nearly two decades. 

Highlighting the natural assets including the renowned Living Root bridges and India’s tallest waterfall, as few of state’s strongest pull factors, Tariang further added that the state’s recovery in terms of arrivals since the pandemic has been encouraging for both the department and the industry. “We had a great tourist footfall in 2022 and onward, and that has strengthened our confidence to position Meghalaya as a preferred eco-tourism destination,” he said. 

He further shared that the plan aims to double economic contribution (GSVA), tourism footfall and livelihood opportunities by 2028.  

Festivals bringing 4.1 lakh visitors

Notably, the tourism footfall in 2023 stood at about 1.42 million, with Meghalaya contributing roughly 4.1% to GSVA from tourism. In this, Festival programming is driving strong seasonal demand; Tariang shared that the total festival footfalls were about 4.1 lakh in FY23 with 5,000 festival-related jobs created. 

“Events such as the Me’gong Festival, the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival, and others together attracted nearly 4.1 lakh tourists across four major festivals. This surge is partly driven by India’s growing concert economy, which Shillong is well-positioned to capitalise on,” he said, pointing to the surge in domestic youth travellers and international artists who now view the city as a cultural hub. “Shillong’s music culture is a major draw, and the city continues to grow as a destination for large-scale events and music festival.” 

Another standout initiative is the CM Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project, which Tariang described as a “big draw for the youth economy.” Since its launch three years ago, the project has hosted 3,000+ live performances across the state and supported over 1,600 local artists every month. “Busking and live performances have now become a familiar sight across major tourist locations.”

The state’s annual ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds’ event also continues to draw professional caving teams from the US, New Zealand, Australia, cementing Meghalaya’s reputation among adventure travellers.

Boosting connectivity & capacity

In terms of connectivity, Shillong is well-linked to the northeastern states. The nearest major airport is in Guwahati, about 100 kilometres away. While Shillong has its own airport, Tariang noted that the state has very recently invited proposals to launch direct flights from Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, a step expected to significantly boost arrivals.

To expand hospitality capacity, Meghalaya has already partnered with brands like Taj, Aurika Hotels. The state currently has 720+ registered lodgings, as per the official data. 

Meghalaya is also leveraging central schemes including those under the Ministry of Tourism, DoNER, and the state’s own incentives, where entrepreneurs receive 50–70% subsidy under the homestay and prime vehicle schemes, said Tariang. 

New projects

The government has already earmarked about INR 4,000 crore for tourism, covering 50+ accommodation units, six iconic projects, wayside amenities and visitor facilities at key sites. A slate of flagship infrastructure projects is already planned, including a 600 PPH ropeway in Shillong (INR 176 crore), a Convention Centre at Tura (INR 56 crore), a skywalk and tourist hub at Mawkdok (INR 51.74 crore) and a Meghalayan Age Cave Experiential centre at Mawmluh (INR 32 crore).

The destination-development map also highlights emerging clusters like Resubelpara, Nokrek-Tura, Wari Chora, Kynshi, Mawsynram, Sohra/Dawki, Umiam/Shillong and others aimed at spreading visitation across the state. The major objective is also to increase the average length of stay from about 2 days to 5 days and scaling high-end rooms from roughly 300 to 11,000, shared Tariang. 

Ensuring tourism benefits flow directly to communities 

“Our village communities are equally central to our tourism identity. We grow together with them,” Tariang stated, highlighting the model in Mawlynnong, often cited as Asia’s cleanest village and many others that maintain tourist infrastructure and cultural sites.

Under the Community-led Infrastructure Scheme, the government supports villages with training, amenities, and the Tourist Buddy Programme, where trained locals assist visitors at key sites, ensuring safety, information support, and responsible tourism practices.

“Our model emphasises community participation through public-private-community partnerships. We ensure tourism benefits flow directly to communities, helping them grow alongside the industry. Through this collaboration, we have been able to enhance infrastructure, build capacity among local entrepreneurs, and support communities under the Community-Led Infrastructure Scheme,” said Tariang.