Shillong, May 29: The recent visit of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident have given a major boost to tourism in Meghalaya, with hotels, homestays, and resorts currently running at full capacity.

“After the Pahalgam incident, there is a trend of people moving towards Northeast India, and when you talk about Northeast India, the prime destination is Meghalaya,” said Alan West Kharkongor, President of the Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum (MRTF), on Thursday.

Speaking about the influence of Tendulkar’s visit, Kharkongor added, “The incident in Pahalgam has encouraged more people to choose our state, and of course, the visit of star cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has had a big impact. Being a star, he has a huge number of followers. I think his visit has turned him into a sort of brand ambassador for Meghalaya, and his presence is inspiring more people to come here.”

Kharkongor, who is also a tourism expert with deep experience in the Sohra region, noted that tourist numbers have been steadily rising. “It keeps increasing year after year. Last year, data shows we received around 16 lakh tourists, and this year, that number is expected to go up by another one or two lakhs. That’s why we need to prepare ourselves properly to ensure the safety of our visitors,” he said.

The growing popularity of Meghalaya as a safe and scenic destination highlights the importance of strengthening infrastructure and services to cater to the rising tourist footfall.

Also Read: Centre asks Meghalaya to fast-track Bangladesh border fencing

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