Meghalaya is reshaping its tourism strategy around local livelihoods, community-led destinations and environmental sustainability, moving beyond a focus on increasing visitor numbers.
Tourism-linked livelihoods in the state rose from about 50,000 in 2022 to more than 75,000 in 2025, while tourist footfall reached nearly 18.55 lakh last year, according to state government data.
The strategy seeks to spread tourism beyond established destinations such as Shillong and Sohra, encourage longer visitor stays and ensure a greater share of tourism income remains within local economies.
The Tourism Policy 2023 promotes a high-value, low-volume model, with carrying capacity, waste management and environmental sustainability incorporated into destination planning. With more than 76 per cent of the state’s geographical area under forest cover, the government has also linked tourism expansion with the conservation of forests, rivers, caves, waterfalls and Living Root Bridges.
Homestays form a major part of the community-based approach. The government has sanctioned 877 applications and disbursed more than Rs 120 crore under the programme, which is estimated to have created over 6,000 jobs. The Meghalaya Homestay Mission aims to add or upgrade 1,000 units in 2026-27 as part of a wider target of 3,000 homestays.
The state is also promoting rural tourism cooperatives and community-led tourism infrastructure, giving local communities a role in developing destinations and running tourism-related enterprises.
Environmental conservation is being integrated into the same model. The Meghalaya Community-Led Landscape Management Project has covered more than 400 villages, with work including spring rejuvenation, mine-land restoration, Living Root Bridge conservation and payments for ecosystem services.
At the infrastructure level, more than Rs 162 crore has been proposed for tourism development, destination infrastructure and community tourism. Umiam, Sohra, Dawki-Shnongpdeng and Nokrek have been identified as major tourism hubs.
The Rs 233.75-crore PM-DevINE Sohra Tourism Circuit is among the major projects, covering Nohkalikai Falls, Mawsmai Eco Park and the Khasi Heritage Experiential Centre. Other proposed projects include a Shillong Peak ropeway, Mawkdok Skywalk, a Rain and Bamboo Interpretation Centre at Mawsynram, a Living Root Bridge Museum, the Tura Integrated Hospitality and Convention Centre and the Umngot Riverfront Development at Dawki.
The government is also seeking to strengthen local transport services through the Prime Tourism Vehicle Scheme under the CM-ELEVATE programme. Entrepreneurs receive financial and credit support to operate GPS-equipped tourism vehicles, alongside branding assistance and mandatory tourism-related training.
Technology is being brought into destination management, with plans to use digital tools and artificial intelligence to monitor visitor numbers, traffic and occupancy, forecast demand and manage crowd movement and carrying capacity.
Trained local youth are also being deployed as ‘Tourist Buddies’ at major destinations to provide information, assist visitors and respond to emergencies.
Festivals and the creative economy have emerged as another part of the tourism strategy. The Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme has supported more than 7,000 artists and generated over 6,000 direct and indirect livelihoods, according to government figures.
Events such as the Me’gong Festival, Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival and Shillong Literary Festival together attracted more than 1.1 lakh visitors in 2025. Smaller events, including Culinary Cascade and the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival, drew around 10,000 visitors each.
The Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy 2025 is aimed at attracting film and media productions while creating opportunities for local service providers.
Heritage conservation is also being incorporated into destination development. The Pine Home Eco-Sustainable Model Project at Mawlangwir uses local materials and community participation, while the Twahlongwar Open Air Museum in Mawsynram features more than 20 ancient structures, megaliths, an old iron furnace and historical trade routes.
The wider approach seeks to assess tourism not only through visitor numbers but also through employment, local enterprise, environmental conservation and the share of economic benefits retained by communities.
For Meghalaya, where tourism is closely connected with its natural landscape and indigenous cultural heritage, the strategy places greater emphasis on expanding the sector while managing pressure on the ecosystems and communities that sustain it.
