Call for rules to control winter travel

TT, Siliguri: Tour operators have demanded formulation of guidelines to sensitise tourists to the perils of high-altitude travel during winter and prevent drivers from suggesting risky itineraries for a fast buck.

The demands were raised at the recent Bengal Travel Mart, held in Siliguri, in the wake of reports that hundreds of tourists were left stranded and many fell ill following recent snowfall in Sikkim.

Tourist footfall has risen because of frequent snowfall in Sikkim and in many places in the Darjeeling hills, including Tiger Hill and Sandakphu.

The travel agents feel the thrill of chill should not come at a cost. "Thousands of tourists have gone to higher reaches of Darjeeling and Sikkim in winter to enjoy snowfall. In Sikkim, tourists were stuck on a number of occasions because of snowfall and had to be rescued by the army. At Sandakphu, too, some tourists were stranded. Many fell sick because of bad weather," said Samrat Sanyal, general secretary of the Himalayan Hospitality and Tourism Development Network.

"We feel more people will ascend the hills next year and hence, want both the Bengal and Sikkim governments to formulate guidelines for tourists. It will help tourists travel safely in extreme cold conditions. Many tourists make a dash for the mountains to enjoy the snow and eventually fall ill because of lack of acclimatisation. They don't know the vagaries of nature," said Sandipan Ghosh, general secretary of the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators' Association.

A transporter in Siliguri said the guidelines should cover drivers, too.

"The guideline should mention the dos and don'ts for the drivers. They should explain to tourists the possible consequences of travelling to a high altitude, say 11,000 ft or above, in winter. Tourists should be told that it is risky to drive vehicles in areas covered by snow. The guidelines will prevent drivers from undertaking risky rides for earning more money," he said.

A representative of the Travel Agents' Association of Sikkim (TAAS) said there were such guidelines for mountaineers but not for tourists.

"We will appreciate it if the state government prepares such guidelines. It would also enable us to know about weather conditions from appropriate authorities and accordingly, plan trips," said Raj Mohan Pradhan, a member of the TAAS.

Additional reporting by Rajeev Ravidas in Gangtok.