Darjeeling open for tourists, Sikkim to restart from October

After remaining shut for almost six months due to the COVID-9 pandemic, the popular hills stations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal have opened their gates for tourists. The neighboring Himalayan state of Sikkim is expected to follow suit from October.

On September 5, the West Bengal government had permitted hotels in Darjeeling and Kalimpong to resume their services following social distancing norms and maintaining hygiene. Those within containment zones, however, would have to remain shut.

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Sangey Tshering Bhutia, president of Darjeeling Hotel Owners’ Association said, “Now that the hotels have opened up we are optimistic that tourists would start arriving and the tourism industry would roll back to normal in a phased manner. We are expecting tourists soon.”

Hoteliers said that they have drawn up plans on how to sanitise hotels and maintain hygiene when tourists start flocking in.
“Once a guest checks out of the room it would be sanitized and would be kept vacant for at least three days before allotting to another guest. There would be no buffet system, the body temperature of guests would be checked when they check-in and all hotel staff would be wearing masks and gloves. The entire hotel would be sanitized regularly,” said Diamond Oberoi, managing director of a prominent hotel.
Public transport connecting New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri with the hills stations of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and other places have already started.

Subhanan Chanda, chief public relations officer of North East Frontier Railway said that more trains are expected to ply from September 12.

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