Meghalaya bets on community-based tourism; targets 21 lakhs tourists by 2028
Meghalaya tourism representative image
Aims to place local families, entrepreneurs, transport providers, food vendors and guides at the centre of the state's tourism growth story, while supporting sustainable and inclusive destination development.
As Meghalaya witnesses growth in visitor arrivals and increasing recognition as a year-round destination, the state is accelerating investments in community-led tourism through large-scale homestay development programmes.
Tourist arrivals have reportedly increased from approximately 12 lakh in 2018 to more than 16 lakh currently, with the state targeting 21 lakh visitors by 2028. Many high-potential destinations lacked adequate lodging, and tourist spending went unrealised. To address growing accommodation demand, authorities have prioritised homestays as a scalable tourism infrastructure solution while creating livelihood opportunities for local residents.
The government took the first step in September 2023 by launching the Meghalaya Tourism Homestay Scheme in convergence with the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). The scheme gives financial assistance of up to 70% for projects costing up to INR 10 lakhs. This includes a 35% subsidy under PMEGP and an equal 35% from the State’s Tourism Department, making it accessible to first-time entrepreneurs and rural households. The scheme said to have sanctioned 900 applications. On the ground, more than 490 homestays reportedly became operational, creating 1,000 rooms and around 1,500 livelihood opportunities.
The govt also launched the Chief Minister's Meghalaya Homestay Mission in September 2025, building on the earlier scheme with greater ambition. The Mission targets 3,000 new homestays and 15,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2028. New homestays can receive a subsidy of up to 70%, capped at INR 7 lakhs. Existing homestays can claim an upgradation incentive of up to INR 2 lakhs to improve quality and visitor experience. Early momentum is reported to be strong, with 80 applications already approved across 10 districts, showing participation from every part of the State.
Through a combination of state-backed incentives and financial assistance schemes, hundreds of new homestays have already become operational, with further expansion planned under the Chief Minister's Meghalaya Homestay Mission.
The initiative aims to place local families, entrepreneurs, transport providers, food vendors and guides at the centre of the state's tourism growth story, while supporting sustainable and inclusive destination development.
