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Sarikah Atreya

Gangtok, Jan. 4

The tiny Himalayan State of Sikkim is ready to roll the dice, and the hospitality industry in the State is up for a major makeover.

Along with its breathtaking natural beauty, lofty mountains and lush green valleys, Sikkim is now luring visitors with a casino and a 5-star hotel.

The State has legalised casinos and recently signed an agreement with Hotel Royal Plaza at Syari here. A part of the Park Sarovar Plaza group, Royal Plaza will become the first hotel in the entire region to have the gambling facility.

The Sikkim Government had passed the Sikkim Casino Games ACT in 2004 and the rules regulating their operation were framed last year through the Sikkim Casino Games (Control and Tax) Rules, 2007.

The five-year agreement between the Royal Plaza and the State Tourism Department was signed recently.

The hotel, which has a 4-Star rating, will have to upgrade itself and secure 5-Star recognition, which is required by the Act. According to the Act, only 5-Star hotels will be eligible for a casino licence.

According to the agreement the State will get 25 per cent of the stake money from the casino.

The development has created ripples in the State’s hospitality and travel industry.

According to tour operators, with a casino and a 5-Star hotel in place, Sikkim can expect high-end visitors who would not mind spending in dollars.

“If Sikkim can have its own casino, we will be able to cater to the niche segment of visitors who will spend well, which in turn will provide added fillip to the industry,” Mr Binita Lama, a local tour operator told Business Line.

The nearest casino in the region is in Kathmandu in Nepal, which has been a favourite destination for domestic tourists.

“We should now be able to tap into this segment, and divert tourist traffic from other States headed towards Nepal, especially during the holiday season,” the State Tourism minister, Mr R.B. Subba, said.

The tourism industry is the biggest revenue earner for the land-locked hill State.

More Stories on : Tourism | Other States

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