Shillong, Oct 24: Blessed with natural beauty, temperate climate and friendly people, the erstwhile capital of undivided Assam, Shillong has emerged as top tourist destination in India, according to a global survey.
Ages back, this small hill town mesmerised the British colonial rulers and reminded them of their home in Scotland with the rolling hills, pine trees, cascading waterfalls and a soothing climate. They therefore dubbed it as “Scotland of the East”.
“Known as the “Scotland of the East”, Shillong, India enchants visitors with its stunning landscapes, including lush hills, waterfalls, and pristine lakes”, the “Travel Trends Report 2025”, released by Skyscanner, a global travel app, said.
According to the report, Shillong has emerged as one of the top searched destinations for flight connectivity by globetrotters, who want to venture to less explored destinations.
In the report, Shillong featured as the only Indian city in the top ten destinations for which global travellers are seeking flight connectivity. The report said, Shillong witnessed an increase of 828 percent flight searches compared to 2023 during the same period.
Although Meghalaya, especially Shillong and its suburbs, has been witnessing a steady tourist boom, its actual potential has not been harnessed optimally so far.
The state government is trying to woo tourists and developing infrastructure in terms of hotels and homestays and the airport. There are reports of the airport being expanded for larger aircraft to land.
Moreover, issues surrounding connectivity, like the recent demand of tourist taxi associations, are being sorted out together with other stakeholders of the tourism sector.
Apart from these developmental initiatives, policy interventions like hosting multiple festivals during autumn and collaborating with partner countries like Japan has only given direction for the growth of the tourism sector.
Meghalaya government’s autumn tourism calendar includes Shillong Literary Festival on November 12-14, Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival on November 15-16, Me’gong Festival on November 29-30, the Hills Festival on December 6-7, Bryan Adam India Tour on December 10 and Winter Takes on December 12-14, etc.
Some of these initiatives are already showing results, like the report of Skyscanner, and the state government estimates that before 2028, 40 percent of the population in the state would be directly engaged in the tourism sector.
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar summed up aptly about Meghalaya’s tourism potential recently saying: “If there is a heaven, it is in India, and if there is heavenly spirit, it is in Meghalaya”.
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