Community Based Tourism for Economic Growth: A Case of Mawlyngot the Urlong Tea Village in Meghalaya, India

Abstract

The significance of Tourism and more specifically the Community Based Tourism was realized in the wake of global pandemic situation. The growing trends towards the popularity of niche tourism such as the Community Based Tourism was a notable change. Tourism is today recognized as one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The question however remains, should the benefits of the industry be limited to select few. Is the industry benefiting local communities who deserve their fair share?
The research paper attempts to answer this, citing the example of Mawlyngot village which was a sleepy village full of social evils. The village has seen transformation after promotion of local tea through community-based efforts and promoting Tourism. Based on the structured interactions with the key stakeholders and the local community the paper examines the key factors leading to such transformation.