5-day Tourism Carnival in May

GANGTOK, 03 April: Following up on the Snow & Culture Fest held recently, Sikkim is all set to organize a 5-day tourism carnival in May to celebrate Spring with tourists with events spread out across the State. The carnival is scheduled for an 11 May kick off.
The Tourism & Civil Aviation Secretary, R. Telang, today informed that the Carnival will showcase every aspect of hill life.
Stressing that the objective behind organizing such a grand show and including such varied activities as adventure sports, cultural and religious events, nature, handicrafts, music and traditional foods was to provide an “additional bonanza to tourist who visit the state at that time”, the Secretary said. All the government department and tourism stakeholders of the state will be involved in the festival, he mentioned, while adding that the Army will also be present as an integral part of the events.
The 17 Mountain Division will perform paragliding, paradiving, sky-dying, a dog squad display and motorcycle stunts and many other adventures activities, informed the Secretary.
Another attraction on the inaugural day will be a carnival through town, a flower show, food court [both traditional and exotic], he added.
On activities beyond Gangtok, there will be special yak safaris at Tsomgo lake side, a Bhajan Sandhya at Siddheswara Dham at Solophok, and a special performance by Jhakris.
Mountain Biking and Paragliding activities will be hosted in East and West districts.
The Secretary further informed that the Department will sitting in a final preparatory meeting with the Chief Secretary and Heads of Departments on 05 April. “We will have a detailed discussion on all aspects, especially the financial part at that meeting,” informed the Secretary.

Sikkim Tourism Markets itself in Kolkata

GANGTOK, 14 Feb: Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Government of Sikkim, organized Tourism Stakeholders Meet, 2012 at The Park Hotel, Kolkata on 13.02.2012. The Meet was chaired by the Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Bhim Dhungel. The participants included officers of Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Government of Sikkim, members of tour operators, hotel and restaurant association and village tourism committees.
The main objective of the Meet was to organize an interactive session for strategic marketing of Sikkim. The invitees included Regional Director, India Tourism, tour operators, travel writers, investors, representatives from railways, press and media based in Kolkata. There were 85 participants from Kolkata who had positive interaction with their counterparts in Sikkim.
Minister, Bhim Dhungel in his address expressed his gratitude to all present for their support and cooperation in making Sikkim their favoured destination, support and cooperation and extended his invitation to visit the beautiful Himalayan State of Sikkim.
The programme included presentations by Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS), Sikkim Hotel & Restaurant Association and Village Tourism Committee. The prgrammes was very positive and fruitful with a positive response from the participants.

Tourism Deptt thanks stakeholders and officials for assistance rendered in handling Mangshila road mishap

GANGTOK, 21 Dec: The Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, in a press statement issued today, has thanked officials of the Sikkim Police Checkpost, North district administration, District Hospital Mangan and stakeholders for the assistance rendered by them in handling the 14 Dec road mishap at Lower Manngshila involving a tourist vehicle. Six people were killed in the accident.

Tsomgo road still unsafe for tourists; decision to reviewed on 24 Oct

GANGTOK, 17 Oct: A team comprising of officials of Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Border Roads Organisation, Sikkim Police Check-Post branch and members of TAAS and JN Road Taxi Drivers Association conducted a joint inspection of JN Road up to Nathula on 15 October, informs a press release issued by the Tourism Dept.

Rs. 225 lakh kitty for preservation of Sikkim’s cultural heritage

Rs 3.98 CRORE TOURISM MAKEOVER FOR THAMI DARA
GANGTOK, 28 Aug: The cultural heritage of Sikkim is being sought to be consolidated by the State government by undertaking various measures. An amount of Rs. 225 lakh has been set aside for this by the government. The money will be used in the preservation and restoration of monasteries and mandirs, for cultural resource mapping, digitization of records and purchase of ethnographic artifacts for the upcoming state museum. Preservation and restoration of traditional houses and historical buildings etc are also being contemplated.
In another step towards promotion of tourism in the State, Rs. 3.98 crores has been sanctioned for the development of Thami Dara in East Sikkim. This amount will be used by the Tourism and Civil Aviation department in the development of Integrated Adventure Tourism Infrastructure.

Stricter guidelines issued for hoteliers

CCTVs FOR HOTELS HIGHER THAN 2-STAR AND USE OF LOCAL NAMES EMPHASISED FOR BUSINESSES
GANGTOK, 04 March: The Tourism Department, its name recently expanded to Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, has released a notification laying down guidelines and instructions for “strict compliance” by all hoteliers and travel and tour operators in Sikkim.
The 7-point list of guidelines begins by requiring every hotel owner to supply the name of the lessee of the property along with the Lease Deed Agreement to the Tourism Department. This, apparently “to monitor the performance, sanitation, local employment, disposal of garbage, accommodation and service charges in the hotels”.