Meghalaya’s festivals powering local economies

Rohan, a young techie from Pune, arrives at Guwahati airport. He has travelled all the way from Pune to attend the Cherry Blossom Festival and watch one of his favou rite bands, The Script, perform live. Along with this, he has planned a trip across Northeast India and intends to visit three states: Meghalaya, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh. On the first day, he hires a cab from Guwahati to Shillong and checks into a homestay—an increas ingly popular choice among young travellers. Within this travel itinerary lies an ecosystem that empowers cab operators, local home stay owners, and small scale business owners in Meghalaya and the broader Northeast region.

- NIBIR DEKA

Blessed with rich biodi versity and breathtaking landscapes, Meghalaya has emerged as one of India’s most vibrant ecotourism destinations. Known for its unique culture, adventure opportunities, and pleasant climate, the state offers a diverse range of experienc es—from exploring the rain soaked beauty of Cherra punji, the rain capital of the world, to discovering more than 300 scenic tourist sites across its terrain. De spite the setback caused by the pandemic, Meghalaya’s tourism rebound has been remarkable. In 2024, the state welcomed more than 1.6 million visitors, surpass ing pre-pandemic numbers, including 15.9 lakh domestic and 23,000 foreign tourists. This resurgence highlights Meghalaya’s growing global appeal as a natureand cul ture-driven destination.