Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has announced a new scheme offering a 70% subsidy for homestays, as part of the state’s preparations to host the National Games 2027. The announcement was made during the land handover ceremony for the proposed five-star Holiday Inn Resort at Hotel Polo Orchid in Tura, organised by the state’s Department of Tourism.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries will receive 70% subsidy support to establish homestays designed as sports hostels, which they will own and operate independently once the Games conclude. Sangma said the initiative aims to address accommodation shortages while simultaneously creating entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities for local residents, emphasising that Meghalaya needs a balanced mix of high-end hotels and community-based homestays to serve all categories of tourists.
The Chief Minister also outlined a broader set of connectivity and infrastructure initiatives planned for the state, including the expansion of Shillong’s runway, a INR 50 crore state-funded repair and revival of Tura Airport with expected UDAN operations, new heliport development, an upcoming IT park, a medical college, an additional secretariat building and urban beautification projects.
Describing the proposed INR 130 crore Holiday Inn Resort as a major step forward for the Garo Hills region, Sangma said the investment aligns with the state government’s broader vision of building Meghalaya into a 10-billion-dollar economy through strategic development of tourism and related sectors. He further articulated a long-term ambition of transforming the state into a USD 150 billion economy by 2047.
Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira and other senior officials were present at the event. The upcoming five-star resort is expected to strengthen high-end hospitality infrastructure in the Garo Hills region and further establish Meghalaya as a key tourism destination in India’s Northeast.