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Due
to lack of large and medium industries, tourism is one of the most
sustainable industries in the State thereby creating tremendous
opportunities in terms of revenue generation and employment
opportunities. With these potentials, the Government has not
lagged behind and has therefore declared tourism is one of the
topmost priorities in the over all developmental scenario of the
State. The Tourism sector is strategically placed in the
socio-economic development of the State thereby giving each and
every citizen an opportunity to avail of the facilities. In order
to bring about a long term perspective plan on the development of
tourism sector, the Department has prepared a perspective plan for
15 years beginning 1997 -98 and terminating in the year 2011-2012.
Some of the important achievements made in the
field of the tourism sector is as follows:-
1. RELAXATION OF ENTRY PERMITS:
Relaxation of entry permits to foreign tourists have been made to
a large extent. Foreigners are now permitted to avail of the inner
line permits from any of the Indian Missions abroad and any
Tourism Offices located in the Four Metropolitan Cities and at the
Border Checkpoint at Rangpo, East Sikkim. The State Government has
also facilitated the extension of inner line permit to foreigners
for a total period of 45 days at an interval of 15 days each,
which can be now duly extended by the Superintendent of Police of
all the four Districts of Sikkim. Earlier the entry of foreigners
for adventure tourism has been restricted to not less than four
pax. This has now been relaxed to a minimum of two pax.
2. SINGLE WINDOW CLEARANCE:
The Department of Tourism has initiated a single window
clearance for an investors that are wanting to invest in Sikkim in
the travel trade business, hotel/resorts, by acting as a
facilitator to expedite the projects. The department of Tourism
would take the responsibility of identification of the land,
registration of the Company and all other related matters
concerning setting up of such projects in the State of Sikkim.
3. SAMDRUPTSE PROJECT:
The State Government has embarked on a very ambitious program of
implementing the project of constructing a 108 feet statute of
Lord Guru Padma Sambhava at Samdruptse in South Sikkim at a total
cost of Rs. 6.00 crores. The project is being speedily implemented
and the necessary infrastructures such as road, water, site
levelling etc., have already been completed. The religious aspects
of the construction of the statue, the design and its dimensions
has been entrusted to Ven. Dodrupchen Rimpoche by the Government
of Sikkim. To facilitate tourists moving up from Namchi to
Samdruptse and in order to give them a panoramic view of Namchi
town the Department is in the process of installing a ropeway from
Namchi to Samdruptse. 4. TSOMGO LAKE:
Tsomgo lake which is situated at an altitude of 12400 feet enroute
to Nathula Pass has been developed into a very popular tourist
spot. The department has completed the construction of the Alpine
Cafeteria and toilet facilities for the benefit of the tourists
and is in the process of completing a designated car parking area
for 200 vehicles and a Yak yard. Together with these construction
of Shopping complex is also being undertaken. The cost of the
project is Rs. 203 .00 lakhs.
5. ARTIFICIAL LAKE AT UTTAREY:
The Department with a view to establish a new destination in West
District as a means for gradual dispersal of the tourist has
proposed the development of an Artificial lake at Uttarey, West
Sikkim at an approximate cost of Rs. 200.00 lakhs. Rural
Development Department has been given the responsibility for
preparing the project report by the Government which will then be
submitted to the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India for
seeking central assistance. The area has been surveyed by the
Mines and Geology Department and has certified the stability of
the land for resurrecting the old dried out lake. This will
enhance the tourism potential in West Sikkim immensely.
Compensation for land has been made.
6. NATHULA :
The Nathula Pass was opened for the first time for the domestic
tourists from September, 1999. The tourists were allowed to visit
four days in a week @ Rs. 300/- per person. Better facilities like
PHC, STD booth, and parking facilities have been provided which
was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Communication Shri
Ramvilas Paswan. The amenity is expected to facilitate the
tourists and the Army to make phone calls to their relatives from
a place located at a height of more than 14,000 ft. A noble
thought in itself.
7. TOURIST TOILET:
Out of thirteen tourist toilets sanctioned during 1999-2000 at an
estimated cost of Rs. 2.18 lakhs each, five toilets located at
Singtam, Rumtek, 3rd mile and 17th Mile and Namchi have been
completed. These toilets will be made operational on pay and use
basis. The rest located at Temi and Bermiok in South District and
Phensang, Phodong, and Mangan in North District will be completed
within the shortest possible time. These will provide added
facilities to tourists.
8. CHUNGTHANG:
Construction of Tourist Lodge at Chungthang, North Sikkim has been
approved and sanctioned. The construction is being taken up by the
Buildings and Housing Department.
9. During the financial year 2000-2001 has prioritized several
schemes under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes incorporating
projects like Angling, Computerization, Wayside amenities,
refurbishment of Monasteries, Tourist Lodges, Lake Development,
Development of water falls, trekking routes, improvement of old
heritage bungalows, tourist toilets, etc. involving a sum of Rs.
552.76 lakhs as the Central financial assistance against the total
sanctioned projects for Rs. 720.49 lakhs. The remaining cost of
the project is to be met from the Pan as the State Component.
10. DEVELOPMENT OF SARAMSA GARDEN:
Development of Saramsa Garden which is known to be a very popular
picnic spot and recreational centre having various species of
plants and trees located at 45 minutes drive from Gangtok is being
developed into a beautiful garden. A green house to house various
species of orchids and an A very and an open air theatre is also
constructed, for staging the cultural show of the State and a car
park has been constructed. The entry to the garden is through a
beautiful traditional gate that has been provided. Beautification
of the’ garden and car park has also taken up. The plan is in
consonance with the blue print prepared by the Tata Consultancy
Services.
11. DEVELOPMENT OF NAMLI TOURIST CENTRE:
The Tourist recreational complex at Namli in East Sikkim is being
developed into a tourist complex having facilities like parks,
gardens, angling, walk around to and water sports which would be
connected with Saramsa Garden and therefore making the entire area
into a integrated tourist development complex. This will be an
added tourist attraction to both domestic and international
tourists plus local people as it is within a driving distance from
Gangtok the Capital of Sikkim.
12. TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE AT NAMCHI :
As Namchi is now developing into a very popular tourist centre and
with the completion of the Guru Padmasambhava Statue at Samdruptse,
it is expected that this will be one of the most sought after
destinations particularly from the pilgrimage tourism point of
view. Apart from this the adjoining areas are being developed into
a beautiful trek route from Mehnam to Tendong and Damthang. In
order to facilitate flow of the tourist traffic a Tourism
Information Centre has been completed and put into operation.
13. TEESTA TEA TOURISM FESTIVAL:
For the last two years Sikkim has been hosting for four days the
Teesta Tea and Tourism Festival in a very big way. During the
event tourists from abroad and India visit Sikkim to savour the
rich cultural and traditional heritage of the State in all its
splendor .Traditional dances are performed at the monasteries,
Archery competitions are held, a Carnival of the rich cultures of
three ethnic communities is put on display and last but not least
an all India River Rafting competition is held on the Teesta and
Rangit Rivers; This has now become an annual feature.
14. FLOWER FESTIVAL GANGTOK AND NAMCHI:
As Sikkim known to have a wide variety of species of plants and
flowers. Sikkim is the home to the rare species of rhododendrons,
orchids, primulas and host of other flowers, which is exhibited
throughout the year at the annual flower festival that is being
held in Gangtok, for the benefit of the tourists. This has been a
very popular attraction to the tourists. To further and promote
the rich floricultural aspect of the State, a similar flower
festival is held once a year in Namchi the Headquarters of South
District.
15. SIGHT SEEING BY HELICOPTER:
Apart from connecting Gangtok the capital of Sikkim to
Bagdogra with regular flights to Delhi and Calcutta, the
Helicopter Service has become a boon to the tourism industry in
Sikkim. With the introduction of the service, Mountain Flights
Gangtok-Singtam-Geyzing- Yuksom-Dikchu-Gangtok, Gangtok-Mangan-along
the Teesta river to Chungthang-Lachung-Yumthang-Gangtok -Mangan-Chungthang-
Lachen -Zemu Glacier-Green Lake-Lachen-Gangtok, it has become a
very special treat for the tourists visiting Sikkim. Mountain
flights are very popular and is not conducted in other parts of
the country .Apart from this the Helicopter Service also conducts
charter flights to all the four Districts of the State.
16. MARKETING STRATEGY:
The Department has taken up aggressive marketing strategy in India
and abroad to promote Sikkim as tourist destination. In India the
Department has participated in fairs like Travel and Tourism Fair,
Delhi, Bombay and Ahmedabad, SATTE at Delhi and India Expo at
Delhi and abroad the Department has sent delegations to ITB Berlin
and MART in London. Apart from this the Department had hosted a
number of renowned foreign and Indian Publishers and Travel
Writers to Sikkim part from renowned television networks to cover
the various facets of the tourism industry in Sikkim. This has
been a tremendous success in terms of the in crease in the
arrivals of the tourists both of domestic and international.
17. AEROSPORTS:
The Department with the assistance of Alpha Aviation Ltd..
Recognised by Government of India is in the process of setting up
a Aero sports club in Sikkim in order to assist all the youth of
Sikkim in the fields of Aerosports in Sikkim, so that they could
embark on this adventure as a full time profession. The Department
is acting as a facilitator in terms of organising training
programs and also leasing out equipments to interested parties.
18. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT :
The Department has prepared many projects in human resource
development and has organised various seminars, workshops having
faculty members brought from outside the State as key-notes
speakers in the field of the Tourism Industries for imparting
training programs to the local youths, travel operators, hotel and
restaurant operators and taxi drivers, etc. This is with the
intention of inculcating a spirit of professionalism so that we
are geared to take on any category of tourists that is intending
to visit Sikkim be it Indian or foreign. 19.
STRENGTHENING OF INFRASTRUCTURES:
The Department has strengthened infrastructures in terms of
upgrading facilities at Siniolchu in Gangtok, Hotel Mt. Pandim in
West Sikkim, Rangpo Tourist Centre at Rangpo, wayside amenities at
Chungthang, Kabi, Rumtek and also in the process of constructing
wayside amenities at Temi Tarku, Singshore, Toong, Melli,
Tashiding. This will be an added facility to the tourists visiting
the tourist circuits on these routes. Apart from this the
Department is also having a base camp constructed at Yuksom, which
is under progress, having a designated parking area, toilet
facilities, trekkers hut and camp sites. A Tourist Information
Centre is also coming up at Gyalshing the Headquarter of West
Sikkim and a tourist lodge is being constructed at Tashiding in
West Sikkim and Assangthang in South Sikkim.
All these projects have been duly sanctioned by Ministry of
Tourism, Government of India. Many more projects are on the
pipeline and negotiations are on with a number of investors for
setting up hotels and resorts in Sikkim, for which land has been
identified and the process of signing a MoU is under way.
20. NATIONAL AWARD:
The Department of Tourism, Government of Sikkim takes the
privilege of mentioning that it has been the recipient of the
National Award given by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of
India for the best performing State in the North Eastern Region
for two consecutive years. This is proof enough to indicate the
seriousness and the priority that has been set by the Government
of Sikkim in furthering the promotion of Tourism in the State with
the aim and object of making it as one of the premier
.destinations in the country in the near future.
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