Sikkim lauded for promoting rural tourism

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, Siliguri,20 Nov 2014: Tourism stakeholders of Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh including north Bengal have praised the Sikkim government for supporting rural tourism in the state by establishing a number of home stays.

The Association for Conservation of Tourism recently held a three-day seminar on regional exchange of tourism and related activities at the Central Dooars Eco Fest in Jaldapara where participants exchanged views to promote tourism.

Arjun Chhetri, secretary of the Nepal-based Nature Conservation Society, 

appreciated Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling for promoting and supporting rural tourism in the state. He said, “We should learn a lesson from the Sikkim government for supporting the rural populace by promoting tourism through home stays.”

ACT members Raj Basu and Biswajit Saha also noted that the chief minister is the first person in Sikkim to proactively promote rural

tourism. A 29-member team from Sikkim participated in the Jaldapara meet and interacted with Jaldapara National Park forest officials, tourism experts and representatives from Nepal, Bangladesh and north Bengal.

Kalpan Chhetri of Green Escape Travels from Sikkim said, “Gone are the days when the people of Sikkim used to chant political slogans. Now everyone is making a beeline for eco-tourism and self reliance.” 

Sanjiv Thapa of Darjeeling Salamander Tourism Welfare Society said.

the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration has also shown keen interest in eco-tourism and residents of remote villages have started home stays. He added there is a huge potential in the Darjeeling hills to develop eco-tourism.