SHILLONG:
Meghalaya chief minister
Conrad K Sangma on Friday participated in a virtual meeting called by
Union minister of state (independent charge) for
tourism Prahlad Singh Patel to discuss ease of travel to enhance domestic tourism.
In the course of his address, Conrad pointed out that the relatively “better Covid situation” in the
northeast could be key to rekindle tourism in the region. “Twenty two million outbound tourists from India, who usually look for high end tourism destinations outside, can take advantage of the low Covid cases in the northeast and explore the scenic and natural beauty of the region,” the chief minister said.
He informed Patel on several initiatives that his government has taken and spoke about measures being adopted for the safety as Meghalaya gears up to re-open for tourists. He added that Meghalaya has prepared itself to cater to tourists and has also inked a Memorandum of Agreement with a private airline company to run flights from New Delhi to
Shillong which would further boost tourism.
“Direct flights from Delhi to Shillong and from Shillong to other state capitals in the Northeast will open up a huge tourism market”, the chief minister said.
Earlier in June this year, in keeping with the
new normal of
social distancing, chief minister Conrad K Sangma had inaugurated isolated cottages called the Orchid Log Houses, overlooking the beautiful hills of Mawdiangdiang in the New Shillong Township that was funded under the Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Union tourism ministry.
“The idea is to really work in future in terms of how we need to adapt to tourism when it comes to the Covid-19 situation,” Conrad had said.