The proposed system will require visitors to register and verify their identity at designated entry points, with the first centre coming up in Ri-Bhoi district
Shillong: Visitors travelling to Meghalaya may soon have to undergo a mandatory verification process before entering the state, with the government planning to introduce a tourist registration mechanism to strengthen security and monitor the movement of travellers.
Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira said the proposed system will require tourists to check in at designated registration centres, where officials will verify their identity, supporting documents and the purpose of their visit.
The first registration centre is being established at Umling in Ri-Bhoi district, with similar facilities planned across Meghalaya, including in the Garo Hills region.
Although Meghalaya does not implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP), Shira said the proposed mechanism has been modelled on the verification systems followed in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur.
According to officials, the initiative will enable the government to maintain a comprehensive database of visitors, monitor tourist movement more effectively and strengthen efforts to detect illegal infiltration. Documents carried by both domestic and foreign visitors will be scrutinised to verify their identity and ensure they possess valid travel documents.
The proposed centres will also function as visitor facilitation hubs. In addition to registration counters, they will provide basic amenities, including restaurants and other services, to improve the travel experience.
Officials said the system is expected to enhance security, improve monitoring of tourist arrivals and maintain real-time records of visitors entering the state.
