Meghalaya has launched a motorcaravan scheme for tourism entrepreneurs, upgraded visitor facilities at Shillong’s Ward’s Lake and inducted a new tourist bus to expand travel options and strengthen the state’s tourism sector.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira facilitated the initiatives, which also included the inauguration of the Meghalayan Age Pavilion, the allocation of venture spaces to entrepreneurs supported by the PRIME initiative and the promotion of indigenous fruit wine.The PRIME Meghalaya Motorcaravan was flagged off under the Meghalaya Motorcaravan Scheme, a component of the Chief Minister’s ELEVATE Programme.
The scheme aims to encourage tourism entrepreneurship by helping eligible applicants establish motorcaravan-based travel businesses.Eligible entrepreneurs can receive financial assistance covering 50% of the project cost through upfront capital support and equated monthly instalment (EMI) co-payments. The assistance is intended to ease the financial burden of setting up businesses and improve access to credit through participating banks.
The initiative targets demand for adventure, wildlife, pilgrimage and ecotourism, offering visitors a way to explore Meghalaya’s landscapes while combining transport and accommodation.
Entrepreneurs have been invited to apply, subject to the prescribed eligibility criteria.At Ward’s Lake, the programme saw the inauguration of an upgraded entrance and a drinking water facility that uses moisture harvesting technology. The system draws water from the surrounding air through a 10-micron aluminium mesh-supported HDPE fabric before treating it through ozonisation, ultraviolet sterilisation and ultrafiltration.
The facility aims to provide drinking water to visitors while promoting sustainable infrastructure at one of Shillong’s prominent tourist attractions.The new Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) tourist bus is expected to expand travel options for visitors. Together, the initiatives seek to improve tourist amenities, encourage local businesses and create livelihood opportunities linked to the state’s tourism economy.
