TAAS welcomes declaration of Tourism as “Infrastructure Industry”


GANGTOK, 15 April: A Notification issued by the Home Department [No. 28/Home/2011 dated 29 March 2011] records that the tourism sector has helped tremendously in economic development and employment generation in the state of Sikkim. A number of financial incentives become available under Infrastructure Industry if Tourism is declared an Infrastructure Industry, the notification explains. “Hence, in order to achieve the above objective, the state government has declared and notified ‘Tourism’ as Infrastructure Industry in the state of Sikkim with immediate effect,” the Notification announces, informs an IPR press release.
The Travel Agents Association o f Sikkim [TAAS] president, Lukendra Rasaily, expressed “great happiness” on behalf of his organization and tourism stakeholders over the notification of Tourism as an Infrastructure Industry

He mentioned that such declaration has been a long-pending demand of the organisation and it was welcome that it has been so notified.
“This will help the state tremendously as the sector will now receive direct assistance from the Centre and enjoy other relaxations. This will greatly facilitate development of the sector since the State government has come out with policies favorable to tourism stakeholders and people of the state,” he said.
Mr. Rasaily stated that the Chief Minister has already prioritized the tourism sector in the state and with this notification, the path for further development had been further cleared.
He expressed his deep gratitude towards the Chief Minister from his organization and all tourism stakeholders on the latest initiative.
source;Sikkim Now