Sikkim CM Tamang urges officials to focus on recommencement of tourism

GANGTOK: With the number of COVID-19 cases beginning to show a decline, Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang has already set his sights on reviving the lucrative tourism sector in the state.

In a meeting with senior Tourism Department officials and Tourism Minister BS Panth held at the Samman Bhawan yesterday, Tamang was updated about the status of various projects under the department.

The chief minister directed the department to focus on recommencement of tourism in the state, Visit Sikkim 2022 and Mega Homestay projects. They were requested to conduct widespread marketing and promotion of homestays and encourage community participation.

ALSO READ: Nagaland: Kohima Ranked 10th Among 100 Smart Cities

They Homestay Operator's Manual, a book providing guidelines for both hosts and visitors, was also released during the meeting.

Sikkim, a state famous for dazzling waterfalls, virgin forests, Tibetan style Buddhist Gompas, alpine meadows, rhododendron flowers and more, has seen a dip in tourists owing to the pandemic. This is worrisome to the government as the Himalayan state as the tourism sector is the biggest contributor to the state's revenue and a large chunk of the population are directly or indirectly connected to it.

Follow us on Facebook