Shillong, Sep 18: In a display of increased concern over Meghalaya losing tourism revenue to other North Eastern states, the Tour Operator Association of Meghalaya (TOAM) has asked the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) to keep on hold its protest seeking ban on outside taxis in tourist spots of the state.
“At this critical juncture, TOAM requests that AKMTTA immediately stand down on the manner of protest and take their concerns to the Govt in a private manner,” TOAM president E Banlumlang Blah told reporters on Wednesday.
The AKMTTA has called for an indefinite strike from September 16, demanding the state government to ban entry of tourist taxis from outside the state to different tourist spots of Meghalaya.
Expressing concern over the “disturbing trend”, he said, “We cannot risk the protest leading to deter tourists from coming to our State.”
The TOAM also sent a letter to AKMTTA following repeated diversion of organised tours away from Meghalaya to other destinations in the North East.
“This disturbing trend, similar to what we witnessed last year, has already resulted in significantly low tourist footfalls over the past few months,” Blah said.
Warning of decline in tourism revenue if the “trend” goes on, he said, “If this practice continues, the consequences will be irreversible. Tourists who are diverted once will not return. Instead, they will permanently shift their preferences elsewhere, leaving Meghalaya’s tourism industry crippled.”
“Hotels will be empty, restaurants will suffer, taxis will remain idle, and livelihoods painstakingly built over decades will collapse. Quite plainly, if this continues, our industry will die,” he warned.
Asserting that the survival of Meghalaya’s tourism industry depends on our collective actions now, Blah said, “Delay or complacency will only accelerate the downfall we are all trying to avoid.”
“We urge your association to treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and to commit to immediate joint action by not disrupting the inflow of tourists and taxis from Assam who wish to enjoy the beauty of our State,” he added.
