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Sikkim has 30 pc growth in tourism
by Tashi Pradhan

          Gangtok: Sikkim, the smallest and youngest State in India's North East, has registered a 30 percent growth in tourism- related revenue. The buzzing markets in Gangtok and the number of vehicles plying is indicative of how well things are moving. "The growth of tourism in Sikkim has been tremendous. I think, in ten years, we have seen about 30 per cent growth. When we initially started this business in way nineties, tourism was almost as good as negative. Now over the years we have seen about 250 thousand domestic travellers which is a real boom to the economic growth in the state of Sikkim for tourism. And as far as the foreign clients are concerned we have about 5-10 thousand people visiting for various aspects of cultural nature and adventure tourism," S.K Pradhan, President of the Travel Agent Association of Sikkim. The region is endowed with diverse tourist attractions and each State has its own distinct features. The attractions and the people of the region constitute the tourism resources at large. "I like cleanliness, greenery and mountains and everything. Sikkim is a good place," said Ankit, a tourist from Andhra Pradesh. "I am very much impressed with the development of tourism here. I think there is a lot for the tourists to see. It seems the government called the summit to put in some infrastructure which means tourists can come here and stay at very nice hotels. There is a lot to see, there is a lot of History," said Seema, another tourist from Australia.

          Recently, the fourth Sectoral Summit on Tourism and Hospitality of North Eastern Council was organised here on how to promote tourism in the region. Union Minister for North East Affairs Mani Shankar Aiyar in his address said: "To give them really detailed exposure to all the sectors in which Thai investment can take place. And if it works then you'r really opening the gate to South East Asia." Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has appealed to the Centre to remove some legal barriers to boost tourism. Representatives of other North Eastern states have suggested measures like improving infrastructure and basic amenities. The North East Summit decided to open hotel management institutes in all states of the region to promote tourism. Today, Sikkim stands out as a model for other North Eastern states as to how the potential of the state can be utilised to its optimum if there is tranquillity, no unstable and uncertain political conditions.
-May 24,  2007