Shillong, August 20: The tourism stakeholders represented by the Tour Operators Association of Meghalaya (TOAM), Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum (MRTF), Tour Guides Association of Meghalaya (TGAM), Federation of Shillong Hotels (FOSH), Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF), and Meghalaya Rural Tourism Cooperative Federation Ltd. (MRTCFL).
In the meeting held today, 20 August 2026, express our deep concern and strongly condemn the violent incidents of 19 August 2026, during which vehicles from outside the state, including tourist taxis, buses, other vehicles pedestrians and bystanders, were attacked and vandalised.
They fully respect the democratic right of individuals and organisations to express their grievances. However, protests must remain peaceful and must not be exploited by anti-social elements to create fear, violence or damage to public property.
Meghalaya has worked hard to establish itself as a safe, welcoming and responsible tourism destination. The unfortunate incidents of yesterday have the potential to seriously damage this reputation and have far-reaching consequences for the tourism sector in the coming months.
They are already witnessing cancellations and concerns among visitors, including retaliatory developments from Assam, affecting tourism stakeholders as well as ordinary citizens dependent on inter-state travel.
They also believe that there is a need for a serious review of the security arrangements during yesterday’s rally. Since due permission had been granted by the Government, it was expected that adequate police and district administration arrangements would be in place to maintain law and order.
The visible acts of vandalism raise legitimate concerns about the effectiveness
of these arrangements. Tourism today supports the livelihoods of more than 30% of Meghalaya’s population, directly and indirectly, with a significant proportion of these livelihoods based in rural areas.
From homestays and local guides to drivers, artisans, restaurants and small businesses, thousands of families depend on a peaceful and stable tourism environment.
They therefore urge the Government and law-enforcement agencies to identify those responsible for the violence and vandalism and take appropriate action in accordance with the law, while protecting the rights of peaceful protesters.
At the same time, we appeal to all organisations, communities and citizens to exercise restraint and avoid any form of retaliation. Differences with the Government can and should be addressed through dialogue, democratic engagement and peaceful means.
Recent examples of peaceful youth-led movements in the country have demonstrated that dialogue and constructive engagement can achieve meaningful outcomes. They must not allow one day’s violence to undo years of work in building Meghalaya’s tourism reputation.
They solicit cooperation from one and all to repair this damage that has been done to the tourism industry. They appeal to all stakeholders to choose peace over confrontation, dialogue over division, and responsibility over retaliation.
