Meghalaya Tourism Funding Boosts Homestay Expansion
Meghalaya approves ₹3.40 crore for tourism projects and homestays, supporting 58 beneficiaries and advancing a 3,000-unit homestay target by 2028.
nishathapa 
Umiam, May 7, 2026 — The word on the ground in Meghalaya’s tourism circles is clear: the state is now betting big on locals to build the next wave of travel infrastructure.
The Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya has sanctioned ₹3.40 crore in financial support for tourism infrastructure and homestay development, targeting 58 beneficiaries under its community-led initiatives. The announcement came at a Tourism Champions event at Orchid Lake Resort, Umiam, as the state pushes to pull more locals into the tourism economy.
₹3.40 Crore Sanctioned for Community Tourism Projects
The money flows through the Community-Led Tourism Infrastructure Scheme. It’s built to grow capacity from the ground up.
Grants between ₹5 lakh and ₹20 lakh have been cleared for 58 new beneficiaries. The selection hinges on footfall and project scale. This comes on top of earlier funding where 20 projects had already received ₹10 lakh each.
The idea is simple. Build smaller assets. Spread them wider.
And keep control with local operators instead of centralised players.
Homestay Mission Targets 3,000 Units and 15,000 Jobs
The bigger play sits with the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission.
The target: 3,000 homestays and over 15,000 jobs by 2028. At the event, the first batch of applicants got their sanction letters.
This is about pulling families into hospitality, not just hotels.
And giving travellers more lived-in, local stays instead of standard rooms.
At the same time, the PMEGP Homestay Scheme is already moving money at scale. ₹115.68 crore has been sanctioned so far, with ₹102 crore disbursed to over 900 beneficiaries.
Top performers didn’t leave empty-handed. Ten operators were awarded ₹20,000 each.
Tourism Growth Backed by Infrastructure and Rising Footfall
Officials say tourism is no longer a side story for Meghalaya.
Footfall has touched around 18 lakh visitors. That’s a strong signal of demand building steadily.
There are over 150 tourism projects underway across the state. Public money. Private interest. Both are in play.
Umiam, in particular, is being pushed as a global destination.
And there’s a structural move coming, a dedicated Destination Management Organization to tighten coordination and marketing.
Connectivity and New Projects to Support Expansion
Access remains a bottleneck. The state knows it.
Expansion of Umroi Airport is underway and expected to wrap up in the next 15 months. That’s a key piece in opening up the region.
Meanwhile, new attractions are lining up:
- Shillong Ropeway
- Rain Museum in Mawsynram
- Tourism centres in Sohra
These aren’t random projects. They’re meant to widen the offering and keep visitors moving across locations.
The push is toward a full ecosystem, not isolated spots.
Focus on Skills, Facilities and Local Participation
Infrastructure alone won’t carry this.
The state is also investing in people. Scholarships and certifications have been rolled out for students at the Institute of Hotel Management under the Chief Minister Hospitality Scheme. Annual stipends are now part of the mix.
Basic facilities are getting attention too. Sanitation upgrades across tourist sites have been approved.
And on the ground, homestay owners are already seeing results, steady income and more guest traffic.
The Tourism Champions event doubled as a recognition platform. Entrepreneurs, operators, and community players were all in the room.
Because right now, Meghalaya’s strategy is clear: grow tourism by putting locals at the centre of it.
