Shillong, May 29: Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday said the State has a robust tourism ecosystem and Sohra remains a safe and popular tourist destination despite the recent incident involving a missing couple. “The growing footfalls in Sohra prove we have a robust tourism ecosystem. Hotels, resorts, and homestays are packed,” Lyngdoh said when asked about safety concerns in the region.
He acknowledged the missing couple case but said such incidents can’t be used to generalize about safety. “We cannot police every inch of our tourist destinations,” he said. Drawing a comparison, he added, “A man from Shillong went missing in Thailand six months ago and hasn’t been traced. Would you say Thailand is unsafe?”
Lyngdoh pointed out that local guides are available at tourist hotspots like the living root bridges. “But if someone chooses to venture beyond safe zones, what can the government do?” he asked.
On the criticism from the missing man’s family that rescue efforts were slow, Lyngdoh said, “They are affected emotionally. Naturally, they may overstate. But Meghalaya has difficult terrain. This is not like the plains. Some villages are still unreachable. That’s why our ancestors built living bridges.”
Responding to calls to make hiring local guides mandatory for treks and hikes, the Minister said, “Every incident is a learning experience. We’ll consider it seriously. An advisory on dos and don’ts has already been issued months ago.”
He stressed that tourism in Meghalaya is largely community-based. “Most destinations are owned by local communities or private individuals. The government only supports,” he said.
Lyngdoh also urged perspective. “People go missing across the world. Even the UK and US are no longer considered completely safe. India remains one of the safest tourist destinations.”
He concluded that the missing couple might have ventured beyond safe paths without guides. “When people go on honeymoons, they may not want a guide beside them. But some things are simply beyond human control,” he said.
