Workshop on rural tourism held

SHILLONG, SEPT 5: A one-day Workshop for promotion and development of rural tourism cooperative societies and indigenous products was held today at Raj Bhavan, Shillong. The workshop was organized by the office of the Meghalaya Village Development & Promotion Tourism Cooperative Society Ltd., Shillong in collaboration with the office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Meghalaya, Shillong. The workshop is aimed at promoting the local indigenous products of the Cooperative Societies undertaking Rural Tourism Projects.

Meghalaya Tourism Minister, Shri Metbah Lyngdoh graced the inaugural function as Chief Guest.

Addressing the inaugural function, Meghalaya Tourism Minister, Shri Metbah Lyngdoh said that the workshop will not only provide the platform for promoting rural tourism but will also create tremendous opportunities to boost tourism industry in the State. Shri Lyngdoh also stressed on the formation of a road map for tourism which will include capacity building for the communities to enable the locals to interact with the tourists and also to promote their indigenous products. He urged all the participants to take full advantage of the workshop and put it into practice the knowledge gained from the deliberations from the resource persons.

Others who spoke during the inaugural function include Additional Chief Secretary & Agricultural Production Commissioner, Shri K. N. Kumar, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Meghalaya, Shillong, Shri Arunkumar Kembhavi and Managing Director, Meghalaya Village Development & Promotion Tourism Cooperative Society Ltd., Shillong, Smti R. Kharmujai.

A short documentary film on various tourist spots of Meghalaya was screened during the inaugural function.

During the business session, Resource Persons from Martin Luther Christian University, Shillong, Lady Keane College, Shillong, Institute of Hotel Management, Shillong, Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum (MRTF), Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship and Tourism Department deliberated on the variety of topics namely, Eco-Tourism and its potentialities in the State of Meghalaya, Rural Tourism as a tool for Sustainable Livelihood, Hospitality and Front Office, Adventure Sport and other Tourism activities, Marketing of local products produces by Tourism Cooperative Societies and Tourism in Meghalaya.

By Our Reporter