The Hindu Business Line : Singapore consultants present roadmap for tourism development in Sikkim

The Singapore-based Subarna International Consultancy Pte Ltd has projected tourism footfalls of at least 8 lakh annually in Sikkim by 2015 making the Himalayan State a major tourism destination.

Out of these 8 lakhs tourists projected, the consultancy firm has put the number of international tourists at around 34,000.

Being the gateway to major tourism hotspots, East Sikkim will attract more than 5 lakh tourists annually by 2015, said the consultancy firm representatives while presenting the ‘Developmental guide plans of Gangtok, Namchi, Geyzing and Mangan’, the district headquarters of the four districts of Sikkim.

The presentation for the stakeholders was made at Chintan Bhavan here today, which was attended by the Chief Minister, Mr Pawan Chamling, the Assembly Speaker, Mr K.T. Gyalsten, Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and a host of senior civil authorities.

The firm was engaged by the State Government to prepare a master plan for development of the urban centres of the State. The firm has also been engaged to separately prepare a master plan for developing Sikkim as a international tourism destination.

tourism component

Presenting the tourism component of the urban renewal plan, the representatives said that while the figures of tourists coming to Sikkim will reach around 8 lakh annually by 2015, there is a requirement of an additional 8,753 rooms to cater to the tourists.

The tourism component has been prepared for Gangtok (East Sikkim), Namchi (South Sikkim), Mangan (North Sikkim) and Geyzing (West Sikkim).

The tourism traffic in East Sikkim will remain high and as per the urban master plan for Gangtok, there is an urgent need for larger and better managed hotels and to curb unlicensed hotels. There is also a lack of quality eateries in Gangtok, the study noted.

Circuits proposed

The consultancy firm has also called for developing religious, eco-tourism and natural attractions, reviving the handicrafts and handlooms products and decentralisation of permit system to decongest Gangtok.

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