Meghalaya means “the abode of clouds” in Sanskrit. Carved from the erstwhile State of Assam, Meghalaya is blessed with beautiful topography and biodiversity. While the state was not visited enough till a few years back, it had become a hotspot for tourists in recent years and why not? The capital city of Meghalaya, Shillong is home to beautiful mountain peaks, lakes with crystal clear water, museums and zoos, and numerous waterfalls. Mawsynram which is the wettest place in the world is a nature’s delight.
Living Root Bridge Included On Tentative List Of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site
Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridge which is on everyone’s bucket list might soon be a UNESCO World Heritage site. Meghalaya’s Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma took to Twitter to announce the news. The CM is supremely thrilled that ‘Jingkieng Jri: Living Root Bridge Cultural Landscapes of Meghalaya’ has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list. He added that the bridges not only stand out for their exemplary human-environment relationship but also focus on their pioneering use for connectivity and resilience.
Delighted to share that “Jingkieng Jri: Living Root Bridge Cultural Landscapes of Meghalaya” has been included in the @UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list. I congratulate all community members and stakeholders in this ongoing journey.@PMOIndia
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) March 28, 2022
The Annual Revenue From Tourism Dipped From ₹20 Crores To ₹3 Crores During Pandemic
Meghalaya’s Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed the Assembly that the state’s annual tourism revenue has dipped to just ₹3 crore from over ₹20 crore due to the global pandemic. Clearly, the industry will take a long time to recover and get back to the pre-pandemic numbers.
Also read: My 8-Day Trip To Meghalaya With My Husband In ₹40,000 Including Flight Tickets
The Pandemic Adversely Affected The Tourism Industry
The Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the tourism industry in the state, said the Chief Minister during a budget session of the Assembly. The state government’s revenue generation till December 2020 was only ₹3.48 crore as compared to ₹20.89 crores in 2019, ₹24.77 crores in 2018, and ₹22.95 crores in 2017 respectively.
Let us go vocal for local and do our bit to support domestic tourism in the country. Here Are 10 Simple Ways In Which You Can Help Revive The Indian Tourism Industry.