Meghalaya: Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is set to inaugurate Meghalaya’s Cherry Blossom Festival on November 15, marking a historic partnership between the state and Japan.
This two-day festival will be held at Madan Kurkalang, Ri Bhoi District, with a high-ranking Japanese official’s attendance pending confirmation.
To boost tourism, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh has launched the Tourism Buddy Scheme, deploying 70 trained youths across popular destinations to provide security and assistance during the peak tourist season starting November. These guides will be stationed at key locations including Laitlum, Ward’s Lake, Mawsmai Cave, and Umiam Lake.
Book lovers can look forward to the Shillong Literary Festival on November 18-19, featuring renowned authors Vikram Seth, Shobha De, and Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih.
The state’s tourism infrastructure is set for a major upgrade with Rs 418 crore in combined funding from the Asian Development Bank (Rs 191 crore) and state plan (Rs 227 crore). The Shillong Ropeway project is scheduled to begin construction in mid-November.
A proposal for a luxury rail service between Guwahati and Shillong remains under discussion, though railways remain a sensitive issue in Meghalaya due to concerns from local pressure groups about potential mass migration.
The Tourism Department plans to collaborate with local communities to manage various tourist sites, acknowledging the unique community-owned nature of many destinations in the state. This approach aims to promote sustainable tourism and empower local communities.
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