Meghalaya Government Hands Over Land for Holiday Inn Resort in Tura, Marking the State’s Sixth Five-Star Project in the Pipeline

Tura, February 11, 2026: In a significant boost to tourism in Garo Hills, the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, on Tuesday marked a key milestone in the State’s hospitality expansion with the land handover ceremony for the upcoming Holiday Inn Resort, Tura, to be managed by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).

The project, awarded to InterContinental Hotels Group under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, will see the redevelopment of the existing state-owned Polo Orchid property into a five-star resort in Tura. With an investment of ₹130 crore by IHC, the first five-star hotel in Tura and Garo Hills is expected to strengthen high-value tourism infrastructure in the Garo Hills region.

In 2020, the State did not have a single five-star hotel. Today, Meghalaya has two operational high-end hotels — Courtyard by Marriott, Shillong and Vivanta by Taj. Three more premium projects are in the pipeline, including Aurika by Lemon Tree Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort, Sohra, and the Taj Umiam Resort and Spa. The sixth five-star project in Tura is expected to enhance Meghalaya’s positioning on the national and international tourism map, particularly by opening up Garo Hills as a premium destination.

Emphasising the project’s role in the State’s broader economic vision, Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of Meghalaya, said, “It is a great moment for us. Hotels are part of a larger infrastructure.” He added, “Development is about building an ecosystem and investing in every sector. In 2019, I had come up with a target which I called Mission 10, where I said we will go for a $10 Billion economy. When we took over the government, we were at less than $4 billion, today, we are almost touching $ 7 billion.” He also gave a presentation on the 10 Opportunities and 10 Guarantees that anchors Mission 10, the state’s strategic roadmap.

He further added, “This is not just a 5-star hotel, we are talking about the larger growth story of Tura, Garo Hills and Meghalaya. We are laying the foundation stone today of the future, to see where Garo Hills and our State will take forward. It is our duty to create that vision, so that we can see our Sstate going to the goal of becoming a $150 billion economy by 2047.”

Shri Timothy Shira, Tourism Minister, Government of Meghalaya, termed the event as an important journey for tourism in Meghalaya. “Tourism is one key economic driver of the state. Today, we are handing over the land to InterContinental Group.” The minister stated that Garo Hills has the potential to emerge as eco-tourism destination, adding that 70 per cent subsidy under Chief Minister’ Meghalaya Homestay Mission will ensure that homestays continue to flourish.

Shri Vibhor Aggarwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, stated that the establishment of the 5-star hotel will cater to the needs of many visitors to the State.

Gautam Tyagi from International Hotel Group, stated that the company is committed to partnering in the growth of Meghalaya and contribute to the economic development of the State. He added that the establishment of the 5-star hotel will create direct and indirect employment opportunities for the people of Tura.

Garo Hills, known for its verdant landscapes, deep gorges and rich indigenous cultural heritage, has long been regarded as an off-the-beaten-track destination. The new resort will not only generate local employment and improve ancillary economic activity, but also create fresh investment opportunities in the region.