Tourism in meghalaya: emerging trends and future prospects

Meghalaya is one of India's most promising tourism destinations, renowned for its exceptional natural beauty, rich biodiversity, historical landmarks, tea gardens and vibrant cultural heritage. Characterised by pine-clad hills, terraced landscapes, serene river valleys, majestic waterfalls and a diverse range of flora and fauna, the state possesses immense potential for tourism-led economic development. The tourism sector can play a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth by generating employment opportunities, enhancing household incomes, attracting investment, promoting regional development and contributing to state revenue. Despite these significant comparative advantages, the tourism industry in Meghalaya remains underutilised owing to inadequate infrastructure, limited accessibility, insufficient promotional efforts and other structural constraints. Drawing on secondary data, this study seeks to examine the growth and performance of tourism in Meghalaya over the years and to identify the major challenges that hinder its sustainable development and economic contribution.