singapore firm to help sikkim tourism

Singapore firm to draw master plan for Sikkim tourism


Sarikah Atreya

Gangtok, June 5

The State Government has entered into an agreement with a Singapore-based consultancy firm for laying out a 10-year road map for developing the growing tourism sector into another level.

According to a release from the State Information & Public Relations department, the State tourism department has inked the agreement with Master Consult Services Pvt Ltd which is based in Singapore.

The agreement was signed yesterday by the firm’s Managing Director, Mr Chrisopher Khoo, and the State Tourism Secretary, Mr S.B.S. Bhaduria, here. The company will be charging around Rs 65 lakh as consultancy fees, it is learnt.

Blueprint of strategies


The Singapore company’s blueprint for Sikkim tourism development will comprise tourism audit, strategic analysis, market development and promotion, manpower and skill upgradation and upgrading physical infrastructure across the State, the release said.

Other components of the master plan for revamping Sikkim tourism will include strategies for promotion of tourism industry, skill and manpower development of all its stakeholders, the infrastructure (present and proposed) and marketing issues among others, the release informs.

In addition to scientific exploration of the tourism prospect in the State on holistic basis, the firm will also draw blueprint for specific projects including the Uttaray Tourism Development Plan to sell many of the unexplored destinations to the outside tourists for boosting local economy.

In turn, the State Government will propose to build one tourism spot in every constituency, including promotion of adventure tourism, pilgrimage tourism, village tourism and so on, on the basis of recommendations of the consultancy firm. There are 31 territorial constituencies in Sikkim.

Tourism branding


In the proposed tourism master plan for Sikkim, tourism branding will be given special attention along with competency and standards. The State tourism department will function as a regulatory and promotion agency.

Uttaray in West Sikkim has also been given special attention in the road map with the department keen to exploit the tourism potential of this area.