Meghalaya Government and Guwahati Airport Organise Workshop on ‘Last Mile Connectivity’

SHILLONG: In an attempt to develop the tourism industry in the Northeastern part of the country, the Department of Tourism of the Government of Meghalaya and Guwahati International Airport Limited, the operator of the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport of Guwahati jointly organised a workshop with special emphasis on ‘last mile connectivity’. The event was organised in a hotel in Shillong on Wednesday.

The Tourism Minister of Meghalaya Paul Lyngdoh and Director of Tourism for the state CV Deyangdo attended the event along with the Deputy Director of Assam Tourism Moitreyee Das. Several other dignitaries including officials from both governments, representatives of tour and travel agencies, airlines, airports and key stakeholders of the tourism industry.

Setting the context of the workshop, Utpal Baruah, Chief Airport Officer of Guwahati Airport elaborated on the vision that aims to turn the LGBI Airport into a regional domestic hub as well as an international hub towards South East Asian countries and explained how the air connectivity can play a key role in developing a robust tourism industry in the region and tap a flow of international tourists to the region through the neighbouring countries.

Paul Lyngdoh emphasized creating a synergy amongst all stakeholders in the region and suggested that a regional policy to drive sustainable eco-friendly tourism will be apt for the entire region comprising seven sisters and Sikkim. C.V. Deyangdo also spoke on the occasion and asked LGBI Airport to create certain facilities at the new upcoming airport in Guwahati to ensure a good experience of last mile connectivity that starts at the airport. He further added that the people greeting the passengers at the airport can have the flavour of all the seven states and can introduce the passengers at the gateway to the region with diversified cultures.

Moitreyee Das spoke on the Assam Government’s plan for the next five years that relates to last-mile connectivity and community-based tourism in Assam. E. Bannlumlang Blah, the President of the Tour Operators Association of Meghalaya, Parambir Sehdave, President of the Shillong Hotel Federation, Manoj Kumar Sethia, Executive Member and Mriganka Hazarika, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Assam, Nikhil Kansal, Head-Commerical, GIAL and Snehasish Dutta, COO of GIAL were also present and highlighted different facets of the subject the last mile connectivity. The initiative taken up by the airport to promote tourism and air connectivity was appreciated by the audience present in the workshop.

The workshop ended with a vote of thanks offered by Bhairab Baruah, Head-Corporate Affairs, GIAL. The third Workshop in the series is likely to be held in Arunachal Pradesh in the month of December 2023.

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