In the heart of Shillong’s Adventure Tourism Meet 2025, E. Banlumlang Blah stood out as a voice of both experience and optimism. As President of the North East India Tourism Confederation (NEITC), the Tour Operators Association of Meghalaya (TOAM), and State Incharge of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Blah has been instrumental in promoting tourism across the Northeast. “I am very happy to be here for the third edition of the Adventure Tourism Meet in Shillong,” he said. “This event is very important for Meghalaya and the Northeast because we have so many adventure activities that the world needs to know and experience.”
For Blah, the significance of the event lies in its ability to bring together people from diverse segments of the industry — particularly the youth. “Through this meet, we learned many new things about adventure tourism,” he said. “It was encouraging to see so many young people in attendance — they are the future of our state and of the tourism sector.” He believes that the meet’s discussions and demonstrations will inspire more young people to pursue careers in adventure travel and related fields.
Blah, who was among the early entrepreneurs to enter the tourism sector in Meghalaya, highlighted how the state’s dramatic topography offers unparalleled opportunities for adventure activities — from caving and trekking to rock climbing and kayaking. “Meghalaya is blessed with natural beauty and rugged terrain, making it ideal for adventure,” he noted. “But that same terrain also poses challenges.”
Chief among these challenges, he said, are issues of accessibility and infrastructure. “Because Meghalaya is hilly, reaching some adventure sites can be difficult,” he explained. “We need to improve roads, communication networks, and technological facilities in these areas. Once that is done, the experience for visitors will improve tremendously.”
Despite the hurdles, Blah remains deeply optimistic about the future of adventure tourism in the state. He praised FinancialExpress.com for bringing together such a diverse gathering of experts, operators, and students. “This program has given us new perspectives and ideas,” he said. “If we continue to collaborate and focus on building both infrastructure and awareness, Meghalaya can become one of India’s leading adventure destinations.”
For Blah, the momentum is clear — with commitment from government, industry, and community alike, adventure tourism in Meghalaya is poised not just to grow, but to transform the region’s economy and identity.