SHILLONG, MAY 13: Traditional archery of Meghalaya is all set to become a tool for promotion of tourism as the Meghalaya government is planning to showcase this traditional game in a big way.
Inaugurating the Keanean Guest House, a rural tourism project of the Lady Keane College at Mawphlang, chief minister Mukul Sangma said o Tuesday that the government is planning to promote traditional archery and hoped that the Mawphlang village will provide land for the purpose.
Mawphlang, is also known for its world class Sacred Grove and is about 25 kilometers from Shillong.
Sangma felt that tourism is one important sector that can provide employment opportunity to over 50 per cent of the population in Meghalaya. However, he rued, that the state is not being able to harness this potential which remains to be tapped.
Sangma also underscored the need to identify and structure the kind of entrepreneurship that emphasis on the “exclusiveness” and “uniqueness” that will make Meghalaya a favoured tourists’ destination. He said tourists travelling across the world looks for something that are exclusive and unique.
Sangma, therefore, said, “We need to create products for which the tourists have reasons to want to come to Meghalaya as it is like any other business which competition is high.” He felt the rich culture, music and way of life of the state besides nature’s scenic beauty needs to be structured so that it becomes products of tourists demand. He also emphasized that this need to be published widely.
Sangma informed that the state government had structured a policy to promote investment in tourism designed to support potential entrepreneurs especially those who see tourism sector as a sustainable livelihood. He said, “With this, instead of people remaining job seekers, they can become job providers of which can happen only in tourism sector.”
Giving specifics, Sangma said the state government is providing Rs 6 lakh for any such facilities like setting up of home stay and eco-resort. But he said to implement this policy, the state government must have potential partners who will take advantage of this promotional package.
Earlier, Lady Keane College principal Dr C Massar informed that the tourist guest house is part of the college’s pilot project which has been designed sticking to the basic requirements for the leisure seeking tourist. She said the aim of the project is also to move beyond the campus and make students good entrepreneurs.- By Our Reporter
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