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Published on : Thursday, September 3, 2020
Almost six months after the pandemic left the upbeat tourism completely devastated, Elephant Falls in Shillong, reopening on Tuesday, saw a meager six groups of local tourists in all 17 footfalls compared to around 1000 tourists per day in normal times.
Managed by the San Shnong Youth Welfare Organization (SSYWO), this destination is the first community-led tourist project employing 24 young people in various positions from manning the gate, to guiding the tourists and managing the venue including cleaning and maintaining the cleanliness.
Lionel Nongkhlaw, the general secretary of the SSYWO and its prime mover and shaker said that the organization has appealed to the government to accelerate rail connectivity and renovation of Umroi airport into an international one for attracting tourists again to the state and also ensuring employment for the local youth.
Strongly advocating early return of tourists, Nongkhlaw said, “We have waited long enough. If we don’t open up now we might have to abandon the project altogether since everything will have to start from a scratch.”
Nongkhlaw said that the Organization is facing an unexpected financial crisis where the revenue generated in the past few years had been strictly utilized only for the staff salaries. Hence, the SSYWO urged the MTDC to waive off the monthly lease for this financial year.
Tourists visiting the Falls said that they were tired of sitting at home and came out to inhale fresh air.
Tags: Elephant Falls