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Meghalaya Gets Its 1st 5-Star…A Hotel

CM Conrad K. Sangma aims to take Meghalaya to India's Top 10 chart

SHILLONG, Oct 15 (The CONNECT) – The first five-star hotel of Meghalaya has taken shape thanks to the push by the BJP-backed National People’s Party Government.

Stating this at the inauguration of the Vivanta Meghalaya -Shillong, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma pointed out yesterday that the work on the hotel has been on since 1986, but with a ”string push” by the current government the project has seen the light of the day.

In a tweet, Sangma said: With a huge feeling of fulfilment and after a long wait of 36 years, I am filled with immense joy today to inaugurate Meghalaya’s First 5 Star Hotel ‘Vivanta Meghalaya, Shillong’.

It is owned by the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and has been leased out for a period of 33 years on a PPP mode to be operated by the IHCL.

With a built-up area of about 8,800 sq. m., Vivanta has 101 rooms and other facilities including a specialty restaurant, coffee shops, bar, retail shops, and a banquet hall.

The Vivanta Meghalaya, Shillong along with the upcoming hotel Courtyard by Marriott will give a huge boost to high-value tourism in the State. This model will be further replicated going forward to transform Meghalaya into the most preferred destination for ecotourism. Today we have handed over the hotel to IHCL and the hotel will soon be open for guests, Sangma said.

The Chief Minister reiterated his vision of transforming Meghalaya into the India’s top 10 states within the next 10 years and said that tourism is at the core of realizing this vision. He said that the Government is developing tourism on a hub and spoke model wherein Sohra, Jowai, Shillong, Umiam and Tura will act as hubs and nearby rural tourist destinations will be developed as spokes. In line with this strategy, the Government has taken a number of initiatives to augment the accommodation infrastructure in the State.

Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya. Pic courtesy MTDC

These include the construction of large resorts and tourism infrastructure in Sakaladuma in West Garo Hills, Shnongpdeng in West Jaintia Hills, Sohra in East Khasi Hills, Mawlyndep and Nongmahir in Ribhoi, Nongkhnum in West Khasi Hills, Thadlaskien in West Jaintia Hills and Pelgawari in South West Garo Hills. Tourism infrastructure and amenities at a cost of Rs. 5 -10 crores each, will also be set up in several villages.

To further augment the accommodation infrastructure, the ‘Homestay Scheme’ has been launched, wherein 2,500 accommodation units will be built over the next five years in convergence with the PMEGP. A subsidy of 35% is being given on loans of up to Rs. 10 lakh by the State government which is over and above the 35% subsidy being given by the Government of India under PMEGP. The residents stand to earn a monthly revenue of up to Rs. 50,000 by paying an EMI of just Rs. 5,000. The Government has received over 480 applications to date and has sanctioned Rs. 7.1 crores to build about 75 homestays.

The CM said the connectivity infrastructure is also being upgraded to decongest Shillong and provide connectivity to new destinations. A fleet of electric buses and luxury tourist vehicles will be introduced to add capacity to the transport sector. Further, the works for the iconic Shillong Peak Ropeway, being taken up at a cost of Rs. 140 crores, are also expected to commence by the end of this year.

The State faces a shortage of high-quality rooms and the presence of five-star hotels in Shillong would allow the government to attract high-value tourists, host national and international music and sports events, and other seminars and conferences.