The Hindu Business Line : Sikkim aims to be `all-season tourist destination'

The Department of Tourism, Government of Sikkim, has decided to sell the State as an all-season tourist destination. Hitherto, a majority of the tourists visiting the State do so during the summer months even as a few also visit the "Switzerland of the East" during winters.

Hardly any tourist inflow is discernible during the rainy season.

According to Mr A.K. Srivastava, Commissioner-cum-Secretary in Sikkim's Department of Tourism, steps were being taken to position the State as an "all-season tourist destination".

Besides leisure tourism, the focus now would also be on village tourism, eco tourism, adventure tourism and conference tourism. The hotels and hospitality industry was being encouraged to offer discounts to corporates which host business conferences in different destinations in Sikkim.

Mr Srivastava said positioning the State as an all-season tourist destination would be crucial to meet the State's target of attracting six lakh tourists by 2010.

Development funds

According to him, the infrastructure in the State was also being beefed up to keep pace with the expected increase in tourist arrivals. An assistance of Rs 50 crore had been asked from the Japan Bank of International Co-operation (JBIC) for taking up two road projects. Another Rs 250 crore had been sought from JBIC to fund the proposed airport project in Sikkim, which is estimated to cost Rs 340 crore.

The United Nations Development Programme has provided Rs 1.5 crore for development of village tourism even as the Asian Development Bank was expected to provide assistance for the creation of some basic facilities, such as an amphitheatre, theme parks, a ropeway and a toy railway. The Department for the Development of the North Eastern Region has agreed to provide Rs 15 crore for the Namchi ropeway.

Mr Srivastava said the State government was also encouraging public-private partnerships in the creation of tourism infrastructure in Sikkim. The State-owned Sinancho Lodge would be privatised even as two State-owned more properties - Blue Sheep in Gangtok and Mount Pandim in West Sikkim - would soon be divested.

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