SIKKIM: Ecotourism policy prepared by experts needed for Sikkim – JICA
FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 27: The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in its interim report for the proposed multi-crore ‘Integrated Project for Sustainable Development of Forest Resources in Sikkim’ has suggested formulation and notification of an ecotourism policy for Sikkim.

The proposed ecotourism policy should be formulated by experts on ecotourism who will review policies of other areas and then put up a draft policy, suggested Lionel Becherel, tourism expert of JICA study team during the interim report submission to the State government recently at Gangtok.

The JICA team is working on a preparatory study on the feasibility and cost factor for the proposed forest project for Sikkim.

While presenting the ecotourism component, Mr Becherel stressed the presence of private sector during the formulation of the ecotourism policy which should spell out what ecotourism should mean for Sikkim.

The JICA expert also pointed out the present rigidity in permit system is turning off tourists from Sikkim. Out of five million foreign tourists coming to India, only twenty thousand foreign tourists are coming to Sikkim, he said. There is lot of restrictions which needs to be eased, he said highlighting the need to ease restrictions impeding the development of ecotourism in Sikkim.

For this, Mr. Becherel recommended activities like economic impact study on revenue lost due to restrictions.
Coming to the subject of ecotourism marketing, Mr. Becherel first pointed out presently only Rs. 1 crore is being spent for marketing of Sikkim tourism. We need an Ecotourism Marketing Board with the objectives of attracting an increased number of tourists coming to Sikkim besides targeting new market segments, he suggested.

The JICA expert also expressed his concern over unfeasible expectations being developed during village tourism drive in Sikkim. Village tourism is coming strongly in Sikkim but we are building expectations in all villages where people build infrastructure for tourists and then nothing happens, he said.

Regarding this concern, Mr. Becherel gave the example of Pastanga village tourism where the village tourism made only Rs. 1000 last year. This is not business, he said.

To overcome such trend, the JICA expert suggested that ten best villages should be taken and promoted as village tourism model and increased number of tourists to 10 such villages with good ecotourism potential. These villages will be model for other villages to follow, he said.

Mr. Becherel also recommended creation of linkages with tour operators, capacity building of local stakeholders, village beautification and solid waste management for village tourism promotion. He stressed on developing local handicrafts of right size for tourists to take back home.

“Eighty percent of tourists come to Gangtok. We need to take people to other areas”, said Mr. Becherel.

For decongesting tourism traffic from Gangtok to other parts of Sikkim, Mr. Becherel recommended development of four international standard trek routes as well as local routes to attar the foreign and also the domestic market. “Sikkim got fantastic treks and we must capitalize on them”, he said. He also recommended setting up four high quality ecolodges in Sikkim to attract wealthy clientele where creation of 40 local jobs has been envisioned. He further suggested setting up three bird and butterfly watching areas to attract the special interest market.

“Bird watching is a very lucrative market and Sikkim has the right assets and we must capitalize on them”, said Mr. Becherel.