SHILLONG, FEB 23: Tourism Minister Timothy D Shira on Monday informed the Assembly a tourist-spot assessment survey mapped footfall, visitor mix, spending, attractions and dwell time, alongside site details such as area, ticketing, digital payments, parking and sanitation.
Villages near these sites were grouped into clusters with similar potential to guide homestay development.
“The survey highlights how diverse natural and cultural features—waterfalls, caves, parks, canyons, lakes, trekking routes and sacred groves—shape tourism patterns,” Shira said, noting Sohra, Mawsynram and Dawki remain top draws while new projects and open locations are added as demand emerges.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said 877 homestays have been sanctioned and 843 beneficiaries paid.
“Discussions took place at all levels—locality headmen included—before finalising,” he said, outlining a three-tier approval from directorate to sanction committee.
On non-performing assets, he said: “We have not looked into it as of now, the idea is to promote and support.”
Sangma added the scheme is now delinked from PMEGP to simplify funds flow after earlier bank-linked hurdles, and the government will help those still stuck under that route.
Shira said each beneficiary gets Rs 10 lakh, with Rs 7 lakh paid by government and the rest by the beneficiary.
Responding to queries on district coverage and cluster data, Sangma said surveys were broad-based and coordinated across levels, with villages grouped into selected clusters for implementation.
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