SHILLONG, NOV 7: The KHNAM-State Youth Wing today asked the state government to emulate Sikkim’s model by restricting outside commercial vehicles to the various tourist spots in the state.
“We demand the state government to restrict commercial vehicles from outside the state from taking tourists to the various tourist spots in the state as was done in a state like Sikkim,” KHNAM-SYW president Thomas Passah said.
Speaking to reporters after submitting a memorandum on the matter to the Director of the Tourism Department, he said that the government is also suggested to identify “pick-up” and “dropping” points for the vehicles coming from outside the state.
“This will ensure that tourism will be one of the most sustainable developments for the state and its people, which will also address the growing unemployment problem faced by our local youth,” Passah said.
He however said but at present due to lack of policy in this regard, the state is losing almost 80 per cent of the revenue from tourism sector because most of the tourists visiting the state are coming with hired commercial vehicles from outside.
According to him, allowing the outside commercial vehicles to ply to the various tourist spots and that too without permits have taken away the livelihood opportunities of the indigenous people.
He said that it is high time for the present state government to look into this aspect with utmost seriousness keeping in mind that driving is one the professions which pave way for the local youth to be self employed.
On the other hand, Passah said that by putting restriction to outside vehicles, it will also in a way give tourists a sense of security because local drivers are more experience when it comes to driving the narrow and curve roads of this hilly state.
Asked, the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) also slammed the ruling Congress-led state government for failing to come up with a comprehensive Tourism policy.
“This shows that the functioning of the present state government under the leadership of the chief minister Mukul Sangma with the supports of his MLAs, is not based on policies but is based on festivals,” Passah said.
Stating that the government is spending crore of rupees on a Cherry Blossom festival, he said, “I failed to understand the vision of this state government in what way the festival is going to develop the state.”
Meanwhile, Passah informed that the tourism director has assured the delegation that she would forwarded the memorandum of the party to the state government for necessary action.
Reacting to a query, the state youth wing president said that the party would soon hold a meeting with the local tourist taxi associations and also the tourism department to discuss on the matter.
A similar memorandum was also submitted to the transport department through the district transport officer (DTO) of East Khasi Hills.
By Our Reporter
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