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Time of India
15-06-2025
- Time of India
Tourism in Meghalaya thrives, visitors throng hill destination
1 2 3 4 Sohra: Tourist flow to Meghalaya continues with great enthusiasm as visitors explore the breathtaking views of hills and waterfalls. For tourists, the recent 'honeymoon horror' involving the death of Raja Raghuvanshi was the result of devilish minds fulfilling their vested interests, and it does not define the northeastern state or malign its image. A day after the accused, Raja's wife Sonam along with her four accomplices, were brought to Shillong on Wednesday, TOI visited Sohra on Thursday and spotted hundreds of tourists from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. TOI met a 19-member tourist group from Lucknow, including four children, at the Duwan Sing Syiem viewpoint in Sohra who had come for a two-day trip to Meghalaya. Two women of the group were found clicking pictures wearing traditional Khasi attire. Sunita Akshay looked happy in a Khasi traditional attire, called 'Jainsem', at the Duwan Sing Syiem View Point at Mawkdok Dympep Valley. The valley is located on the way from Shillong to Cherrapunjee. Admiring the natural beauty of the valley, she told TOI, "We have come all the way from Lucknow to explore the beauty of the state. We have heard about the recent Raja Raghuvanshi murder case here. But that does not mean tourists will stop coming." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo She added that a particular incident cannot define a state or malign its image. "They (the accused in the case) had devilish minds, hatched a conspiracy, and executed that to fulfil their vested interests. That is a different chapter. For tourists, it does not matter," she added. Her husband, Akshay, a businessman in Lucknow, said it was their first trip to Meghalaya and the 'heavenly natural beauty' of the state surprised them. Sunil Kumar, who had come from Samastipur in Bihar with his family of seven, was asking his minor son if he would like to experience the zip line adventure when TOI met him. His wife was enjoying the natural beauty of the state. Kumar added that they had planned to visit Cherrapunji from the Duwan Singh Syiem viewpoint, and the group was likely to visit the Double Decker Bridge at Nongrat. Regarding tourist safety, he said the Raja murder case was resolved with the arrest of the accused and it had been revealed that the case had no link to Meghalaya. "It was their (Sonam) case and they just selected Meghalaya as a place to execute their plan. So, we feel very safe here. We have been in Meghalaya for the last two days and have experienced a peaceful environment and warm cooperation from the locals," he added. Last year, Meghalaya was named India's top travel destination in Skyscanner's Travel Trends Report, outperforming global hotspots like Baku and Azerbaijan. Shillong was the only Indian city to make to the list. Meghalaya witnessed a year-on-year growth in tourist arrivals — from 10.24 lakh in 2022 to 14.22 lakh in 2023, a 38.9% increase, and further to 16.08 lakh in 2024, a 13.1% rise — reaffirming its rising appeal as a premier travel destination. CM Conrad K Sangma-led govt will now invest Rs 4,000 crore to develop tourism infrastructure, including the construction of high-end accommodations in tourist spots like Sohra and Umiam over the next two years.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Time of India
‘Meghalaya safe for tourists, continues to attract visitors'
Guwahati: Meghalaya is very safe for tourists who continue to visit the state regularly, deputy CM Prestone Tynsong said on Monday. He added that social media remarks depicting Meghalaya as a den of criminals, following the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, hurt the state's sentiments. Regarding the alleged weak mechanism in the state for handling tourist flow, the minister said the state has certain mechanisms which will be strengthened further. "Where there is a requirement for strengthening, that will be done for sure. In fact, the tourism department has given certain instructions relating to the registration of tourists," he added. The minister said the govt has already directed the owners of homestays and hotels to ensure proper registration of tourists. "In fact, we also have in place a tourism app through which they can send the documents to the police station concerned or may be to the SP," he added. Tynsong said the govt was deeply hurt to see remarks on social media referring to Meghalaya as a den of criminals. "I just personally take it that, okay, maybe out of emotion, out of desperation, maybe they could not control themselves, they made those remarks. But let me tell you one thing, Meghalaya is very safe," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Los jubilados nacidos antes del 1970 tienen derecho a estos nuevos aparatos acústicos Top Audifonos Undo He added that the Meghalaya Police force is one of the best in the country, and it has been proved. "Not only that, people would remember how we handled militancy 15-20 years back. We don't need any forces from the central govt," Tynsong said. Saying that tourists are still coming to the state on a daily basis, the minister said the successful operation by the state police will further encourage people to keep visiting the state. Last year, Meghalaya was named India's top travel destination in Skyscanner's Travel Trends Report, outperforming global hotspots like Baku and Azerbaijan. Shillong was the only Indian city to make it to the list. Meghalaya witnessed a remarkable year-on-year growth in tourist arrivals — from 10 lakh in 2022 to 14 lakh in 2023, which is a 38.9% increase, and further to 16.08 lakh in 2024, which is a 13.1% rise, reaffirming its rising appeal as a premier travel destination. CM Conrad K Sangma-led govt will now invest Rs 3,600 crore to develop tourism infrastructure, including the construction of high-end accommodations in popular tourist spots like Sohra and Umiam over the next two years.
