SHILLONG, OCT 4 : Even as opposition legislators were creating ruckus in the assembly over the need for implementing of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state, stakeholders of the tourism sectors were ruing that the agitations sponsored by the ngos demanding implementation of the ILP has plunged the tourism industry into economic pitfall.
In a discussion organized by the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) on Friday, shopkeepers, tourist operators, hoteliers who are largely dependent on tourism sector for their livelihood were clearly opposed to the idea of implementing the ILP in the state.
MTDF chairman Robert G Lyngdoh said the agitations over the ILP had hit the tourism industry in the state and hotel business in the capital has dropped by seventy percent because of the ongoing \agitations.
Dishing out statistics to show that the ILP does not really stop influx or illegal immigration, Lyngdoh said in Arunachal Pardesh where ILP is being implemented for long time, the population of indigenous people in the state has reduced drastically.
Presenting comparisons, Lyngdoh said in the year 2009-10 6 lakh tourists visited Meghalaya since Meghalaya does not have ILP while only 58000 tourists visited Mizoram in the same period and 22000 tourists visited Nagaland where ILP is operational.
Rishot Khongthohrem, from Mawlynnong said the tourism inflow in Mawlynnong has been adversely affected due to the current agitations. He said, “Our village depends on tourism but number of tourists now has fallen and it is affecting our livelihood.”
Some shopkeepers from Sohra feared that if the agitation prolongs then it will greatly affect their livelihood. The tourism stakeholders from Sohra said tourists is at the peak during the Durga Puja but this time it is different as there has been drastic drop in the number of tourists visiting the place.
Jaintia Tourist Environment Society president SK Lato rued that tourists are not willing to visit even Nartiang temple as they feel unsafe to visit the places because of the agitations He was wondered as to how ILP can be applicable in Meghalaya as the national highway passes from the state and even Meghalaya cannot remain in isolation.
Confederation of Tour Operators Banlum Blah on the other hand felt that Meghalaya needs to showcase its rich cultural heritage to the world but if ILP is implemented this might not be possible. On the other hand S Umdor, professor of department of economics, NEHU believed that the agitations in the state is beginning to take the people down on their knees as it is affecting their livelihood.- By Our Reporter
No ILP NO Rest