Meghalaya’s tourism industry has suffered a sharp setback following the recent tensions along the Assam-Meghalaya border, with hotels and homestays in Shillong, Sohra and surrounding areas reporting cancellation of nearly 80-90 per cent of bookings, according to a survey conducted among tourism establishments.
The situation has also raised concern at the Centre, particularly the Ministry of Tourism, as the unrest has affected the perception of the Northeast as a safe and peaceful tourist destination.
Tourists who had planned trips covering Assam, Meghalaya and other northeastern states have also cancelled or postponed their programmes, although such combined itineraries account for a relatively small share of the overall cancellations.
Tour operators across Meghalaya, Assam and the wider Northeast have expressed concern over the developments, particularly incidents involving attacks on Assam-registered taxis and the blocking of vehicles from both states at entry and exit points, including Jorabat and Byrnihat.
The tensions followed violence during a Khasi Students’ Union rally in Shillong on August 19 and subsequent developments along the inter-state border. Although the situation has been brought under control following intervention by the state governments, tourism stakeholders said an atmosphere of uncertainty and sporadic incidents continues to affect travel plans.
The disruption comes at a crucial time for the tourism industry, with operators preparing for the year-end season, including Durga Puja and Christmas, when Meghalaya normally witnesses a major increase in tourist arrivals.
A joint statement issued by the Tour Operators Association of Meghalaya, Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum, Tour Guides Association of Meghalaya, Federation of Shillong Hotels, Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum and Meghalaya Rural Tourism Cooperative Federation condemned the incidents that led to widespread cancellations.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Leader of Opposition Mukul M. Sangma has called for a coordinated approach among northeastern states to deal with law-and-order problems, warning that unrest in one state can damage the image of the entire region.
Speaking to reporters after the second day of the ongoing Assembly session, Sangma said the Northeast should be treated as a single region and cautioned against targeting or publicly blaming individual states.
He said incidents anywhere in the Northeast influence how the region is viewed by people elsewhere in India, as well as by tourists and potential investors.
Sangma stressed that governments must respond firmly to lawlessness and prevent individuals or groups from taking the law into their own hands. While people have the right to express grievances and disagreement, he said such actions cannot be allowed to undermine public order.
He warned that failure to enforce the law could encourage similar behaviour and create an atmosphere of disorder. He also expressed concern that incidents could acquire a communal dimension when misinformation spreads through social media among people who lack access to facts on the ground.
According to Sangma, effective enforcement of existing laws and creating a strong deterrent are essential to ensure that people understand the limits of protest and grievance expression.
Law-and-order challenges may arise periodically, he said, but governments must address them while taking into account the complexities of each situation and ensuring that the law is upheld.
He reiterated that cooperation among northeastern states is essential because any law-and-order incident in one state can have consequences for the reputation of the entire region.
