Recurrence of such crime will affect tourism: Alan West
There was a guard at Weisawdong, says Sohra deputy Syiem, but where he was during the crime is not clear
Weisawdong (Sohra), June 5: The Indore tourists’ case has not impacted tourism in Sohra so far, but recurrence of such crime will hurt the sector in the near future, said Alan West Kharkongor, director of the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation and advisor to Sohra Syiem.
Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, Kharkongor said, “So far, there has been no impact on tourism. You came through the Mawkdok road and saw the number of tourists. But if incidents such as this keep happening, that same road will be empty.”
Kharkongor emphasised the need for solving the case as early as possible and bringing the culprits to book so that tourism is not affected.
“It is unfortunate that such an incident happened in Sohra, which is a peaceful place. I saw the media reports and comments on social media calling this place crime-prone… Let’s not jump to a conclusion.
Safety for tourists
When asked about the measures taken to ensure the safety of tourists, Kharkongor said Sohra is a vast area and it would be difficult to deploy police at all sites.
“However, we can follow the example of the pandemic time when the community and the State agencies worked in tandem. We can do the same in this case to ensure safety. The local community can work alongside the government. That is my suggestion,” he added.
Weisawdong is a disputed site, and the parking area mostly remained unmanned. Then, why was there no signboard warning tourists to stay away from the isolated place?
“The dispute has been there for a long time now. So, I cannot comment on why there was no signboard. However, there is a policeman at the site,” said Marremdor Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Hima Sohra.
Where the policeman was during the crime, however, remains unclear.
There is also a need to make guides compulsory for tourists, especially those venturing to the isolated areas. The area has recently seen another incident where a Hungarian tourist’s body was found near Tyrna village. The tourist deviated from the beaten path.
