Army denies increased Nathu Latourist permit for security reasons

IPR, GANGTOK, AUGUST 21, 2023 :   Executive Members of Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) and Sikkim Hotel & Restaurant Association headed by Chairman, Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation Lukendra Rasaily, on Saturday met Sikkim IPR Minister B. S. Panth to apprise and discuss various issues and strategies to promote Sikkim Tourism in the national platform and neighbouring countries. 

The Tourism and Civil Aviation department was requested to sponsor floor space/ exhibition stalls at popular TTF/ ITTF/ OTM calendar events in India and abroad so a team of stakeholders could participate in these events and market Sikkim Tourism as a collective effort on their own travelling expenses if the department could consider sponsoring the floor space/ exhibition stalls. 

The Hon’ble Minister agreed in principle to sponsor exhibition stalls in the immediate upcoming events in Bangladesh and Hyderabad which are due in September 2023. 

The issue on increase of Nathula Permit was also discussed. The Secretary Tourism Department informed the Chief Minister personally had directed to explore possibilities to increase the number of permits to Nathula. 

Following this a meeting had been convened by the Chief Secretary a few weeks ago and the representative of the army denied this increase due to security reasons. However, it was decided that this request could be placed again for discussion on a higher level. The issue of Protected Area Permits to solo travellers of foreign nationals was also discussed. 

The Tourism department would be initiating a proposal with the concerned authorities citing the example of Ladakh which also shared International Borders like Sikkim. The issue of connectivity by air was also discussed. 

The Secretary Tourism and Civil Aviation department informed that a trial run had been conducted for introducing a twin engine helicopter with larger passenger capacity last year and a tender had been floated by the department a couple of months ago and the matter was on the pipeline. The issue of over- charging and excessive vehicle hire-charges figured in the meeting. 

This matter had already been discussed with the Motor Vehicle Division and they were planning to issue notifications on the rates, duly considering all factors. The pros and cons of on- line booking was also discussed as many complaints had been recorded of duping the tourists and clients by middlemen or tour operators stationed outside the state. The Secretary said that two on-line apps were in the pipeline and the department would adopt the one which would help in resolving all these loopholes. 

The stake-holders suggested the introduction of mini A/C buses from NJP and Bagdogra on daily basis to popular destinations in Sikkim; so that, the tourists could have an option to either travel by bus or hire individual vehicles as per their liking or capability.