Shillong, Oct 29: The government will launch Tourism Buddies to welcome the visitors to the state.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday,Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said the department will shortly come up with the initiative called the “tourism buddy scheme” for deployment of youths, who will be given short duration training to handle matters of security, guiding visitors and generally making their stay in Shillong and other parts of the state comfortable.
“We will begin with a batch of roughly 70 plus youths. This will come out by way of Notice Inviting Tender ( NIT), which will be floated by the directorate of tourism shortly. We will call the NIT in the next two-three days as we would like to see them being on the spot by the middle of November, as this is the peak of tourism season,” he said.
“We will ensure that we collaborate with the various societies and dorbars, where tourism has gained a strong foothold. The tourism buddies will act as guides, helpers, interpreters and help people, who might lose their way around – all those multifarious activities, will happen,” Lyngdoh said.
He added that the tourism buddies will be deployed mainly in areas with huge tourist inflow for instance like Laitlum, Ward’s Lake, Mawsmai cave, Arwah cave, Nohkalikai, Dainthlen, Mawlynnong, Mawkdok, Golflink, Shnongpdeng, Krangsuri and other areas.
Over Rs 400 crore tourism projects
Lyngdoh reviewed the implementation of the various projects amounting to over Rs 400 crore for the development and promotion of tourism in the state.
The major review done today was on tourism, which you are all aware is now touching a new level with Shillong being the most preferred tourist destination for 2025..
He said the commissioner & secretary and director had briefed him about the various projects worth over Rs 400 crore that are being undertaken.
“Of these, we have a total number of projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) amounting to Rs 191 crore and also from the state plan, we have earmarked an amount of Rs 227 crore for the various infrastructural activities in the various parts of the state of Meghalaya,” he said.
Cherry Blossom Festival
The two-day Cherry Blossom festival will be inaugurated by the DoNER Minister in the presence of chief minister and tourism minister on November 15.
“We are also waiting confirmation from the government of Japan as to which dignitary will attend the festival”, he said.
He said the two-day literature festival will also be held on November 17-18.Renowned writers are expected to attend.
