The purpose of the paper is to bring into spotlight the utility of tourism as a potential tool in providing an alternative means of livelihood without hampering the cultural values and the natural environment of a place. It also point out the difference in characteristics between mass and alternative tourism and the suitability of the latter in the context of Meghalaya where the tourism resource base is dependent on nature and culture. Thirdly, the paper cites the potential tourism attributes or resources that the state has been bestowed that need to be tapped cautiously for ensuring a sustainable development. Fourthly, the paper highlights the trend of tourist arrival in the state in the last more than one decade and finally the paper also sought to venture out ideas to overcome the challenges due to fragility of resource base, lack of community participation and seasonality impact
