Make Sikkim an international tourist destination: MP

NEW DELHI, Aug 21 (PTI) - A demand for special financial assistance to Sikkim to develop it as an international tourist destination was made in the Rajya Sabha today.
OT Lepcha (Sikkim Democratic Front), through a private member's resolution, said the state was full of natural and scenic beauty.

He said 87 per cent of the State is under forest cover and the third highest peak of the world, Mount Kanchenjunga, is in the State.

Lepcha said there was more potential for tourism in Sikkim than Switzerland.

"There are 21 glaciers in Sikkim while there are only 9 is Switzerland," he said, adding that road, rail and air connectivity should be improved to make it an attractive tourist destination.

Participating in the discussion, SS Ahluwalia (BJP) complimented the State government for conserving the natural resources of the State.