Shillong, Aug 16: Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, along with Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh inaugurated tourism amenities at “The Travellers Nest” at Kyiem village in Mawphlang, East Khasi Hills.
The Travellers Nest has five cottages and a restaurant to cater to the need of visitors.
Mawphlang, around 28 km from the city is known for sacred grove, and is a sought after tourism destination.
Inaugurating the infrastructure, the chief minister highlighted the importance of community engagement in driving the state’s economic model.
“Our strength lies in community involvement, which we are leveraging for our economic model,” he said.
Highlighting the collective responsibility of various stakeholders, including the government, community, and public at large, he said, “Meghalaya’s progress cannot be achieved in isolation. Every stakeholder has a role to play, and identifying these roles while keeping the ultimate goal in mind is crucial”.
Terming that the government is working to promote the strengths of Meghalaya as a shining example of sustainable economic growth driven by community strengths, he said, “We are building an economy and livelihood based on our state’s strengths. This model is one we wish to showcase to the world.”
Talking further on the tourism sector, the chief minister expressed his optimism about the role of initiatives like “The Travellers Nest.”
He also informed on the pivotal role of entrepreneurs in pushing the state’s development agenda forward and enlightened on the newly launched CM Elevate programme.
Under Chief Minister’s Elevate programme, the government is offering substantial subsidies ranging from 30% to 75% for projects initiated by different entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and other entities.
“The goal of the programme is to invigorate the economy through diverse initiatives, from cinema halls to health clubs and tourism projects”, he added.
He also informed the gathering on the significance of improved road infrastructure in the state. He said that the ongoing improvement and construction of road from Mawphlang to Weiloi is testimony of government’s commitment to prioritising road connectivity.
During the programme, he flagged off eight Prime Tourism Vehicles.
