The tourism industry is badly hit due to the pandemic, but Sikkim faced one of the worst consequences. Over 15,000 people in the tourism industry have lost their jobs, and 1528 travel agencies have shut down. To revive its economy, Sikkim plans to open its doors to tourists from October. The state is now projecting itself as a ”safe destination” to lure visitors back again.
Sikkim employs about 50% of the state’s population in tourism, which means that a lot of people are jobless right now. The state tourism department held a meeting to discuss a strategy for reopening tourism. They came up with a draft proposal and named it ”Reopening of State Tourism”. Sikkim cannot afford to halt its tourism industry for long as they are running substantial financial losses. The restart of tourism will likely increase the probability of transmission of the disease, so the state wants to ensure that the highest standards of safety and hygiene measures are put in place before they open their doors for tourism. These 7 Stunning Lakes Of Sikkim Are Sure To Leave You Spellbound
Guidelines Tourists Travelling To Sikkim Need To Abide
1. The first phase of reopening in October will be considered for domestic tourists only.
2. All tourists travelling to Sikkim should provide an e-pass with the arrival and departure dates mentioned in it.
3. Tourists will also need to provide a valid COVID-19 negative certificate conducted within three days before arrival.
4. Only two entry points, namely, Rangpo and Melli will be permitted for tourist in the 1st phase.
5. All tourists have to register their details in the Web portal of the Department before arriving at the entry checkposts. The concerned travel agent or operator may help the tourists with the registration.
6. The State government will decide on the number of accommodation units to be authorized for operations in different phases depending on the circumstances.
Also read: World’s Highest Golf Course Is Located In East Sikkim
Guidelines Agents And Tour Operators Need To Follow
1. All tourist transport, including pick up and drop, will be allowed only through authorized local travel agents and operators.
2. No travel agency without the authorization of the State Tourism Department will be permitted to operate.
Any arrival transfer of tourists without the authorized travel agent’s agent’s booking slip or voucher will not be permitted.
3. The authorized travel agents will have to provide the certified copy of their guests’ details, tour itinerary and accommodation details to the nearest Tourism Information Centre or Department at least 24 hours before the arrival of the guests.
4. The travel agents and tour operators shall be permitted to engage only tourist vehicles for all tourist transports and sightseeing during the first phase.
5. Travel Agents should use the same vehicle for the whole tour. They should avoid using other cars in between the tours unless its an emergency.
6. The tour operators processing authorization should not engage proxy operators to conduct their tours.
In the end, do not forget that travelling is a slippery slope right now and do it only at your own risk.