Rural tourism stakeholders write to Paul Lyngdoh
Shillong, Oct 8: Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum (MRTF), a body of stakeholders of rural tourism in the state, has expressed apprehension over the “path taken” by tourist taxi associations while seeking ban on outside tourist vehicles ferrying tourists to various tourist spots.
The MRTF comprising stakeholders in tourism sector also including traditional heads, representatives of various associations and societies, also demanded for inclusion of their members in the committee formed to look into the demand of tourist taxis under the banner of Meghalaya Khasi Tourist Taxi Association (AMKTTA).
According to MRTF, the committee shall be given six months time to submit its report.
“(We have unanimously resolved that) in the Committee announced by the Chief Minister to look in the problem of the AMKTTA, members/representatives of the MRTF, MTDF, TOAM, SRTA, FOSH,JTES, etc., be inducted as being important stakeholders in the tourism industry should be allowed to be members of the Committee. The Committee…should submit its final report to the government within a period of six months,” stated Alan West Kharkongor, president of MRTF in a letter to tourism minister Paul Lyngdoh on Monday.
“(We also) request that the Committee to induct other important stakeholders of the tourism sector into it,” he added.
Expressing concern over negative impact of AMKTTA’s demand, the MRTF letter said, “(We) recognise that the members of the AMKTTA have a right to earn a livelihood but the path taken by them to stop commercial vehicles with valid credentials to ply within the State of Meghalaya is not the path by which they should resort to as this would cause a collapse of the tourism sector in the State and destroy its economy.”
“We find that the proposed action of the AMKTTA to stop/ban all Assam registered tourist taxis from plying to various tourist spot of the State is legally not valid nor tenable and is a violation of the articles of the Constitution of India under the Fundamental Rights and freedom to carry out inter-State trade and commerce,” it added.
Stating that the Sikkim model cannot be replicated in Meghalaya, Kharkongor said, “(This is because) Sikkim is a land-locked and protected State and is bound by highly sensitive international borders. Our State is a State through which residents of other States like Tripura, Mizoram and Assam transit through, and thus the adoption of the Sikkim model would raise issues of movements of people of various other States.”
Further, the MRTF president said that all traditional heads, Sirdars, Rangbah Shnongs allowed all tourist vehicles an equal right to enter and park their vehicles at their various tourist spots and no special treatment was given to any association or groups of persons.
“This arrangement has stood the test of time as it is fair and equitable to one and all and thus will continue,” he reiterated.
