Shillong: Tourism stakeholders in Meghalaya have urged the state government to impose a statewide ban on roadside and open-space cooking at tourist destinations, arguing that the practice contributes to littering, environmental degradation and offers little economic benefit to local communities.
The demand was raised during a meeting with Tourism Minister Timothy D Shira on Wednesday, where representatives of various tourism bodies also discussed waste management, cleanliness at tourist destinations and measures to improve the overall visitor experience.
President of the Tour Operators Association of Meghalaya (TOAM), E Banlumlang Blah, described the meeting as “fruitful” and said stakeholders had expressed concern over the deteriorating cleanliness of several tourist sites.
He said maintaining clean tourist destinations was essential as tourism had become increasingly competitive, warning that poor sanitation could discourage visitors and adversely affect the state’s economy.
Blah said the tourism industry should focus on attracting “high-value” visitors who contribute to the local economy rather than tourists who spend little and leave behind large quantities of waste.
According to him, many visitors bring their own food and cooking equipment, prepare meals at tourist spots and leave without spending money at local establishments, while also adding to the burden of waste management.
“Our objective is to attract tourists who contribute to the local economy. Even if the number of visitors is lower, those who spend on accommodation, food and local services will generate greater benefits for local communities,” he said.
Blah said stakeholders had proposed that the government prohibit roadside and open-space cooking at tourist destinations while simultaneously creating designated picnic and cooking zones equipped with proper waste disposal facilities. Such spaces, he said, could also generate additional income for local residents through the provision of cooking areas, utensils and other services.
He also stressed that effective waste management was critical for Meghalaya’s nature-based tourism industry, saying uncollected garbage and poor sanitation could damage the state’s image as a clean destination and deter tourists concerned about hygiene and public health.
Echoing the demand, Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum president Alan West said the proposed ban should be backed by a government notification applicable across the state, similar to regulations adopted in other tourist destinations.
He said local communities could identify designated picnic areas where visitors would be allowed to cook under regulated conditions with proper waste management systems in place.
West also emphasised the need to strike a balance between promoting high-end tourism and community-based tourism.
While welcoming investments in premium hotels, he said the government should continue supporting homestays and experiential tourism that allow visitors to experience Meghalaya’s indigenous culture, cuisine and way of life, ensuring that tourism benefits reach grassroots communities.
Federation of Shillong Hotels president Parambir Singh Sehdave said Meghalaya’s limited carrying capacity made it important to prioritise quality tourism over sheer visitor numbers.
“As a small state with limited carrying capacity, we should focus on visitors who contribute more to the local economy rather than simply increasing tourist arrivals,” he said.
Responding to questions about incidents involving unruly guests, Sehdave said cases of vandalism were relatively rare, but hotels frequently faced unreasonable demands, threats of consumer complaints and negative online reviews from difficult guests.
He said the hospitality sector continued to handle such situations professionally despite having limited control over guest behaviour and online feedback.