Shillong: The Meghalaya government plans a 10 per cent increase in subsidy for homestay entrepreneurs to boost the tourism sector in the state.
Currently tourism remains the key economic mainstay of Meghalaya with tourist footfall reaching 16 lakh in 2024, increasing by 33 per cent from the pre-Covid levels of 12 lakh.
The government move is expected to further encourage the new entrants in the home entrepreneurship sector. Under the Meghalaya Tourism Homestay Scheme, 622 new projects were sanctioned in the last two years. Accordingly, about 2000 rooms are currently under construction.
The Meghalaya government has further bolstered its support by increasing the government subsidy to 45 per cent to benefit 2000 new homestay entrepreneurs from FY26.
Till now, the Homestay Scheme was providing 70 per cent subsidy in rural areas, with 35 per cent borne by the state government and the balance 35 per cent from the PM’s employment generation program.
As per CM Conrad Sangma, Meghalaya also plans to take up Rs 600 crore tourism projects in FY26. Out of these 100 new projects will be through community participation.
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