Shillong, February 17: Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said Ed Sheeran’s concert had taken the state’s music industry and concert economy to the next level. “As you know, he’s ranked number two in the world today, and the fact that he openly acknowledged that this was the biggest and the best-ever crowd and concert he has attended in India goes to show that Shillong has, in its natural DNA, all the makings of a great music city.”
When asked why major concerts are primarily held in Shillong, Umiam, and Tura rather than other parts of Meghalaya, Lyngdoh said, “We are very steadily improving the ecosystem across the state, trying to improve road connectivity, for instance, availability of homestays and such facilities. And wherever we have been able to attract musicians so far, the first preference for all these artists is that there should be adequate and well-maintained accommodation facilities.”
Speaking on the impact of concerts on tourism, he said, “As you are aware, we started the trend way back in 2004 before even the term concert economy was coined. So, therefore, we have gone far ahead, and as you can see from the various organizers of these shows’ interaction, they have openly said that today everybody would like Shillong to figure in their itinerary. So, it’s a major step forward for Meghalaya’s tourism industry as a whole and the music industry in particular.” He noted that the Ed Sheeran concert drew an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 attendees.
On the influx of tourists during the festive season, Lyngdoh said, “We have not yet got those figures, but I can assure you that all hoteliers, all homestay owners are very happy because, for the first time, they could see tourists and visitors even in the lean season, which is January and February.”