Sikkim set to roll out red carpet for Regional Tourism Meet


BIJOY GURUNG

GANGTOK, December 4: The Sikkim government, Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) and other tourism stakeholders are set to roll out the red carpet to Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja, Minister for State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed, officials from Ministry of Tourism (MOT), tourism ministers from Eastern and Northeastern States and other regional tourism stakeholders for the most keenly meet of ‘Inter State Regional Conference of Tourism Ministers of East and Northeastern States’ slated in the Capital on December 6.

The State tourism department being the nodal agency for the meet is preparing hard to have a smooth and fruitful meeting which is expected to evolve a common understanding to tackle the myriad issues faced by the tourism potential of these parts of the country especially the unexplored Northeastern region.
Sikkim has being performing well in the tourism sector since the past one decade with a surge in tourism footfalls every year. Already 4.6 lakhs domestic tourists have visited Sikkim this year till October while 13,933 international tourists have arrived in Sikkim this year till October and the graph could increase if more incentives and interventions are announced during the December 6 meet.

During the meet, tourism secretaries from each State will deliberating with the MoT and respective State governments on inter State issues of facilitating seamless travel, broad basing of hospitality education and training, initiation of skills training in hospitality sector, implementation of projects, presentations on rural, adventure and ecotourism, relaxation of Restricted Area Pass (RAP), Protected Area Pass (PAP) and Inner Line Permit (ILP).

Relaxation of RAP and PAPs would be a key point expected to be raised by the Northeastern States which feels that such permits are bottlenecks for promoting international tourism in the region.
Sikkim too feels such handicap as the whole State is covered by the PAP regime under Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order of 1985 and Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963 respectively. Though the Ministry of Home Affairs on the month of September had accorded significant relaxation of PAP regime in Sikkim, the local stakeholders here feel it is not enough.

Foreigners require an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter the border State of Sikkim and special permits are required to visit tourism spots like Guru Dongmar or trek along Dzongri areas near the border which are declared as Restricted Areas. In the September communiqué with the State government, the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed its decision to delegate additional powers to Sikkim government for the issues of PAP and RAP.

One point we are hoping to raise is on the RAPs for North Sikkim where presently a foreign tourist is allowed a stay of only 4 nights and 5 days beyond which he or she cannot stay, said TAAS general secretary Lukendra Rasaily.

The Sikkim government had on 2005 opened up two peaks in North Sikkim, Lama Wangden (5868 meters) in Lachen and Brumkhangse (5635 meters) in Yumthang, for mountain expeditions.

Since the peaks have been opened for climbing, we would be requesting the Ministry to enhance the RAP permits for at least 15 days, said Rasaily adding that the tourism stakeholders would also be focusing on opening the famed tourism spot of Guru Dongmar in North Sikkim for foreign tourists and opening Gangtok-Nathu La-Lhasa itinerary. These are money spinners which would greatly tap the tourism potential of Sikkim and the stakeholders would benefit, he said.

The TAAS would be submitting a memorandum in this regard to the Union Minister during her three day visit to Sikkim beginning from tomorrow.

Pointing towards the importance of the meet being hosted by Sikkim, the TAAS general secretary expressed his hopes that the conference will set the ball rolling for an aggressive marketing of tourism potential of Northeast region. We would request for aggressive marketing of Northeastern region with ILP relaxations in various other States, he said.

“Sikkim is celebrating the year 2010 as the Year of Tourism during which tourism stakeholders will be conducting a host of activities for which promotion and marketing is required. We feel time has come for aggressive marketing of Sikkim Tourism in international markets”, said the TAAS general secretary.

A key issue expected to be raised by TAAS is the ongoing practice of various foreign embassies to chare extra money for permits to visit Sikkim while issues visas to foreign tourists. It is informed that this practice has been going on since last year though no proper explanation is being offered as to why these embassies are charging money for visiting Sikkim.

With 245 members and more coming, TAAS is the apex body of tour operators and will be presenting a representation to the Minister who arrives to Sikkim tomorrow. It is informed that ninety percent of the proposals of TAAS forwarded by the State government to the MoT have been cleared till now and the organization is working to address the present issues.

Selja is scheduled to arrive tomorrow here and she would first make a stop at Rangpo, the border town of Sikkim where she will lay the foundation stone of a housing colony.

After attending the regional tourism meet at Chintan Bhavan in Gangtok on December 6, the Minister would move to South Sikkim where she would on December 7 inaugurate the Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure and Ecotourism at Chemchey. She will also lay the foundation stone of a helipad and heliport at the same place.