May 2011 sets new record for tourist arrivals

GANGTOK, 12 July: The acute shortage of taxis in the month of May now stands explained. May 2011 set a new record of tourist arrivals in any month ever in Sikkim. Nearly 1.30 lakh tourists were in Sikkim in May this year!
According to the data released by the Tourism Department, a total of 1,24,323 domestic tourists visited the State in the month of May, which was 7,682 more than last year. Last year, a total of 1,16,641 domestic tourists arrived in Sikkim in May.

Similarly, the number of foreign tourist also went up to 2,875 this May as compared to 1,593 last year.
The official figures also reveal that the inflow of domestic tourists in the month of May has increased positively as it was 70,744 in the year 1995 and crossed the 1 lakh mark in 2009, when 1,08,778 tourists checked in.
On the other hand, arrival of foreign tourists is a mixed bag. Though inflow of foreign tourists at 2,875 in the month of May is the highest ever recorded figure for this month since 1995, but 3,386 was the highest number of foreign tourists in the State, recorded in the month of October 2008.
The official data also shows positive signs for the tourism stakeholders as the number of domestic tourists as on 31 May 2011 has already reached the 3,68,965 mark and 10,414 foreign tourists have already visited the State so far this year. Last year, at this time [31 May], a total of 3,52,953 domestic and 9,538 foreign tourists had visited the State.
In the year 2010, a total of 7,00,001 domestic and 20,757 foreign tourists visited the state. According to the stakeholders, this mark will be crossed easily this year.
In 1995, a total of 3,47,650 domestic had visited the State, while 16,518 foreign tourist had chosen Sikkim as their holiday destination.