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The announcement came at a programme where the state government formally handed over a parcel of land near the picturesque Umiam Lake to the Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) for the development of a luxury resort. The proposed project, estimated to cost ₹330 crore, will see the Tata Group-owned hospitality major build the Taj Umiam Resort & Spa, described by officials as the largest hospitality investment ever made in the state.
Sangma said the upcoming Taj property would become Shillong’s fourth five-star hotel, adding to two existing luxury hotels, with several more projects in the pipeline.
Recalling the long-term vision for the region, the chief minister said Umiam had been identified as a tourism destination as far back as 1988. “What was envisioned decades ago is now being taken to the next level,” he said, while acknowledging the role of various stakeholders in advancing the plan.
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According to Sangma, the entry of the Taj brand is expected to create new employment opportunities, support local enterprises and further strengthen Meghalaya’s image as a high-end tourism destination. “This is just the beginning. With strategic investments, community participation and visionary planning, tourism will continue to be a key growth engine,” he said.
The chief minister noted that Meghalaya received nearly 16 lakh visitors in 2024. Tourism currently accounts for 7.7 per cent of the state’s gross state domestic product (GSDP), a figure projected to rise to 8.8 per cent by 2032.
Detailing the scale of ongoing work, Sangma said the government is implementing 254 tourism infrastructure projects, including 26 experiential initiatives. These include flagship attractions such as the Shillong Ropeway, the Mawkdok Skywalk, the Meghalayan Cave Experience Centre at Mawmluh and the Rain & Bamboo Interpretation Centre at Mawsynram. The total investment across these projects stands at ₹3,914.51 crore.
Highlighting Umiam’s connectivity, located about 17 km from Shillong and 14 km from Umroi airport, Sangma said more than ₹500 crore has been earmarked specifically for its development. The area is being planned as a low-density, high-end tourism zone with a strong focus on ecological sustainability.
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Alongside large projects, the state is also promoting community-based tourism. Under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission, the government offers subsidies of up to 70 per cent for homestay owners. The earlier phase supported 800 homestays and generated around 1,600 jobs, while plans are underway to create 3,000 homestay units by 2028.
Sangma also pointed to Meghalaya’s growing concert and events economy, stating that 3.86 lakh visitors travelled to the state to attend seven major events between 2024 and 2025. He said a public investment of ₹23.5 crore led to economic activity worth ₹133.42 crore and created approximately 5,500 jobs per day, benefiting young people, freelancers, women-led businesses and homestay operators.
Tourism Minister Timothy D Shira, General Administration Department and Community & Rural Development Minister Sosthenes Sohtun, and Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation chairman Marthon Sangma were among those present at the event.
