Sikkim secures top spot in tourism

SNS, Gangtok, 31 October 2013: Sikkim has gone past Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Mallorca in Spain and Horuriku in Japan to be voted the number one place to visit next year.

The suggestion comes from Lonely Planet on 'Best in Travel 2014- Top 10 regions'.

The travel advisory said: "Sikkim has set new benchmarks for responsible travel in the country".It cited Sikkim's record as India's cleanest state and its sustainable community-based tourism in less developed areas.

Lonely Planet said the state's eco-friendly policies have "lent new vigour to the virginal Himalayan wilderness that drapes the region's mountains".

It also cites rise of organic farming in Sikkim and says much of the produce available in markets was gunk-free.

There is also the added advantage of a new airport opening near the state capital Gangtok.

The state continues to attract foreign tourists thanks to its snow-capped mountains, Buddhist monasteries, terraced fields, agreeable climate and excellent trekking. In 2011, the number of foreign tourists in Sikkim rose by 13.7 per cent to 23,602.

The state does well on some development indicators. It has a female literacy rate of 76.43 per cent, above the national average of 65.46 per cent, and infant mortality is 26 per 1,000 births ~ nearly half the national rate of 50 per 1,000 births.

The Kimberley in Australia was second on the Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2014 rankings for regions.

It was followed by Yorkshire in England, Hokuriku in Japan, the US state Texas, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Spanish island Mallorca, the west coast of New Zealand, the Chinese province Hunan and the Tongan island group Ha’apai.

The Lonely Planet also lists what it deems to be the world’s top cities, countries and destinations based on other travel criteria.