1343 tourists rescued by Army, State Gov’t and TAAS
‘Wonderful experience’-tourists

Gangtok, January 1st: Despite freezing conditions, the Indian Army assisted by Sikkim Police, East District administration and Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) battled natural and logistical challenges to safely evacuate all the 1343 tourists back to Gangtok from the Nathu La-Tsomgo Lake-Baba mandir tourism axis during a day long operation conducted on Saturday.
The tourists had been trapped in these snow-clad regions on Friday due to heavy snowfall which blocked the roads and left them stranded to face the sub zero conditions.
"Everything was okay till the afternoon but it started snowing heavily then and our vehicles could not move as snow totally blocked the roads", said Gobinda Bose, a tourist from Kolkata who was visiting Baba Mandir.
                  According to 3rd Mile check post officials, a total of 277 vehicles ferrying tourists had gone up to Nathu La, Changu Lake and Baba Mandir on Friday. Out of these, only 68 vehicles managed to return back before it started snowing leaving 1343 tourists marooned in the freezing attitudes.
It was here when the Indian army personnel stationed in these heights came forward to help the tourists and provided them shelter in four army bases.
                  As soon as we saw the conditions of the tourists, many of whom were with their children, we mobilized our army vehicles and took them to our army locations and gave them shelter, said one army officer stationed at 17th Mile transit camp located few kms down the Tsomgo Lake. The tourists were put up at Thegu, Tsomgo and 17th Mile. Tourists not feeling well were placed in a nearby army hospital where they were treated. Four tourists who were developed chest pains on account of severe cold were rushed to Gangtok army hospital.
"If there were no army, we all have been dead. We got a new life", said Madan Lal Meena, a tourist from Rajasthan. The army provided blankets, heaters and food besides provide a moral boost to the tourists.
                   Most of the tourists said that it was a wonderful experience and not an ordeal to spend the night in these snow-clad regions. "We take this experience in a positive note. We have always seen such experiences in television or read in newspapers and this it the first time we had this experience", said Rekha Jalan, a tourist from Chattisgarh.
Sikkim police personnel stationed at Kupup and Sherathang outposts also put in untiring efforts to relocate the trapped tourists to safer bases. We worked till midnight until the final tourist was safely cocooned in a warm base, a police personnel managing traffic at 17th Mile.
                   Sikkim police, East district administration and TAAS mobilized a massive evacuation operation from the early morning hours of Saturday. First off the blocks were Additional SP (East) K.L Tenzin and Gangtok SDPO Dhiren Lama who drove from Gangtok upto the final centre where the tourists were placed and launched the evacuation process. ADC (East) Navin Chettri and SDM (East) Dr. A.B Karki also followed suit with TAAS members and coordinated the evacuation process.
The evacuation process was a total success without any mishap and the Army, State government and TAAS complimented each other efforts. The TAAS rescue team was led by its president Paljor Lachungpa, general secretary Lukendra Rasaily, Satish Bardewa, Barap Namgyal Bhutia and others.
                   Firstly, army mobilized around 50 vehicles and ferried the tourists up to 5th Mile with East district police and administration and TAAS members. At 5th Mile, TAAS and East district administration officials were waiting with vehicles to take the tourists to their hotels in Gangtok. Three SNT buses and several private vehicles were used in this transshipment process.
The police and TAAS members stood firm at the 3rd Mile check post till late in the evening until the final tourist was safely sent to Gangtok.
We thank the Army for their efforts to help the stranded tourists, said TAAS president Lachungpa. TAAS being the apex body of all the private tour operators had come forward to extend all possible help to the tourists.
                  Meanwhile three important aspects have been revealed in this whole incident.
                  Firstly, the lack of relief centre for such exigencies was sorely felt. The Army has suggested the Sikkim government to consider an accommodation centre with at least 100 beds between Nathu La and 17th Mile to help the tourists in such incidents. Such incident had happened earlier, said an army officer at 17th Mile transit camp.
                  Secondly, the services of the Met office should be used. A mechanism must be established so that the daily weather forecasts reach to the concerned officials who will decide whether to allow the tourist traffic upto the Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La border. If the Met office warns about heavy snowfall, then tourists should not be allowed to prevent such incidents.
The final suggestion was to ensure drivers must carry metal chains and do not use plain tires as ice and snow makes driving virtually impossible. The reason that so many tourists were marooned was that drivers were using plain tires. It was a miracle that no vehicle did not skidded off the icy road.

Source: Sikkim Express

Date: 2nd January 2009.

SOALTE to promote tourism potential of Assam Lingzey

Gangtok, January 5th: Boosted by its recent winter village tourism festival at Assam Lingzey, the organizers formed a new body called Society Of Assam Lingzey for Tourism and Environment (SOALTE) on Sunday.
                 A.P Rai, president of Assam Lingzey GPU is the president and Himmat Rai as general secretary of the new body.
The SOALTE general secretary said the body was formed in view of the potential tourism spots and rich other bio-resources in the constituency. Hence, the tourism fest and other tourism related activities in the village will be organized by this organization he said.
                 Mr. Rai said the body will be launching a website soon to give global coverage about tourism attractions of Assam Lingzey. Besides, a souvenir ‘Yatra’ will also be published, he added.
                 SOALTE body will also approach the State tourism department to include Assam Lingzey winter tourism festival as tourism fest in its calendar event. We will within a week submit the required documents to the department to include our programme in its calendar event, Mr. Rai said.
                 The chief patron of this new organization is Lok Sabha MP Nakul Das Rai. Area MLA Kunga Jangpo Bhutia, Losing Pacheykhani MLA Manita Mangar and agriculture minister Somnath Paudyal are the patrons of the organization

Source: Sikkim Express.

Date: 6th January 2009.

Sikkim projects to attract 7 lakh tourists in 2011-12

Gangtok, January 5th: Blessed with natural beauty, inherent hospitality and above all, tranquil peacefulness, the tourism State of Sikkim is projecting to attract at least 7 lakh domestic tourists and 40,000 international tourists in the next 3 years.
The tourist arrival projection for the year 2011-12 is 7 lakh domestic tourists and 40,000 international tourists, projects the State tourism department in its annual report of 2007-08.
Sikkim has already achieved its target of 5 lakh domestic tourists and 26,000 foreign tourists for this financial year. Actually, the 5 lakh domestic tourists target had been set for 2009-10.
The growth rate remains at 15 percent per annum for international tourists and 20 percent per annum for domestic tourists, the department said.
With inner line permits mandatory for tourists, the State is also proposing to have the permits to be issued from two more additional outlets at Melli in South Sikkim and Darjeeling in West Bengal for the convenience of the foreign clients. The proposal is under the examination of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the department.
Meanwhile, Sikkim government has this year notified two major rules to usher in quality tourism and high end tourists. The Sikkim Casino (Control and Tax) Rules 2007 was notified this year and one luxury resort here, The Royal Plaza has been given the license to run casino games. This is set to bring higher end tourists to Sikkim.
Another notification, Sikkim Registration of Tourist Trade Rules 2008 seeks to streamline and regulate tourism stakeholders in the State to promote quality tourism.
As per the official data, Nathu La border of India and China located in East Sikkim continues to be the lifeline of Sikkim tourism with the State tourism department raking in around Rs. 41 lakhs from permits.
Regarding promotion of adventure tourism, Sikkim had hosted two major adventure activities this year on an international level-1st Khangchendzonga Mountain Biking expedition and Khangchendzonga International trekking programme, both of which saw handsome participations by foreign tourists.
As far as national recognition is concerned, the untiring efforts of Sikkim tourism backed the exceptional image of the State government is certainly a success story in receiving the Northeast award of the Ministry of Tourism for ‘Best Tourism Performing State’ consecutively for the last 7 years. The State also received the national award for the year 2007-08 in tourism.

Source: Sikkim Express

Date: 6th January 2009.

Home stay facilities in emerging tourist destination Darap

Gangtok, January 9: In a bid to promote sustainable ecotourism, Darap Agro Farm and Village Tourism Development Society have come up with home stay facilities in Darap, a tiny hamlet in West Sikkim.
             This picturesque village nestled in the lap of nature is around 8 kms from Pelling and is a virgin tourism destination of Sikkim. The area is mainly inhabited by Limboos, a community which is famed for its indigenous culture and tradition.
              Darap means a meadow in local Limboo language.
With Darap’s ecotourism appeal never in doubt, the local youths have set a remarkable example by starting a home stay in their respective houses with the blend of all the ultra modern facilities and traditional stay and the response from the tourists in the recent few seasons have been encouraging.
Visitors here can enjoy the bountiful nature and the mesmerizing view of Mount Khangchendzonga is splendid in its own form.
            Darap also has quite interesting places to visit such as ‘Rani Dhunga’, 4 kms towards north. It is believed that one of the queens of Namgyal dynasty did her meditation in the said place,
There is also a Yuma Meditation Center where one can meditate. The topography of Darap too provides the adventure lovers with challenging rocks.
One can also visit the local Limboo heritage house here which was built in the 18th century. The heritage house depicts the purest form of Limboo art and culture with varieties of Limboo handicrafts, handlooms, tools and other equipments.
           The tourist can also relish with the local Chang and can take pleasure of a traditional Dhan Nach.
Lying in the picturesque slope of mountains, Darap undoubtedly is emerging as one of the tourist destination.

Source: Sikkim Express.

Date: 6th January 2009.

Call for collective efforts to take tourism to greater heights

Guides are “true ambassadors” for discerning tourists: official

Chennai, January 12: M. Rajaram, Commissioner of Tourism and Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, has urged stakeholders in tourism, the hospitality industry and tourist guides to work together to make Tamil Nadu the top State in domestic and foreign tourist arrivals.

               Inaugurating the two-day annual conference of the Tourist Guides’ Federation of South India here on Saturday, he said the tourism industry could achieve results, if only there were collective efforts, and the support of every related industry to create the right impression about tourist spots. The Tourism Department and the TTDC had taken several initiatives, especially in heritage tourism, medical tourism, and rural tourism, under “Virundhinar Potrudhum,” a promotional campaign.

               Pointing out that tourist guides were the “true ambassadors” for discerning tourists, Dr. Rajaram said the TTDC, together with the Anna Institute of Management, had embarked on a training programme to produce a new breed of guides. More than 150 persons had so far been trained, and the programme would continue. Retired government officials, teachers, and other service industry professionals had expressed interest in working as local guides, and the Tourism Department was planning a training programme for them.

               Iris V. Barry, tourism training consultant and guide in Scotland, stressed the importance of instilling profession values in tourist guides. Updating their knowledge through quality training would help the guides set high standards. This, he said, would help to woo more foreign visitors to India, especially to the southern parts.

               T. Arulraj, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle, appealed to the federation to organise seminars and workshops regularly to help the guides keep themselves abreast of the latest developments in the tourist attractions and their historical importance. The ASI, he said, was willing to join hands with the federation, to educate the guides. D. Balaji, president of the federation, which is a member of the World Federation of Tourist Guides’ Association, appealed to the Union Tourism Ministry and the regional tourism bodies to set up a separate welfare fund for the guides. He also urged the Tourism Department to get a meeting place equipped with library facilities for them.

               Sudhakar S. Selwyn, honorary secretary of the federation, said a post-conference study tour was planned from June 9 to 12. Permission has been obtained from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the guides to visit the Chola paintings on the ‘Vimana’ of the Brahadeeswara temple at Thanjavur and the upper floors of the Gangaikondacholapuram temple.

Source: The Hindu

Date:  13th Jan. '09.

Sikkim Tourism all set to launch second edition of International Mt. Khangchendzonga Mountain Biking Expedition

Gangtok, January 18: After successful completion of the 1st International Mt. Khangchendzonga Mountain Biking Expedition for the first time in the history of India’s Adventure Tourist Calendar, the State Tourism Department is all set to launch its second edition from March 20 to 29.
              A press release informs that the route, prize money and the entry fees (Indian nationals Rs.10, 000, International US$ 500, Sikkimese Rs 2000) will remain the same.
However, on its second day leg, this year the participants are going to Yangang on the way to Rabongla.
             “This year, we are expecting more participants from Indian Army and Nepal apart from Indian Air Force, US, Singapore, New Zealand, UK and Germany and all together hopefully there will be 90+ participants,” Consultant (Adventure Tourism) Saroj Kumar Nayak said in the release.
              As this mega event needs approximately Rs.80 lakh to conduct the programme, the department of tourism has sought Rs.30 Lakh from the Ministry of Tourism and expects Rs.10 Lakh from participants and for the rest of amount it has proposed to seek sponsorship from public and private Corporate Sectors, he added.
It is also informed that a dedicated PRO team under supervision of newly appointed Consultant Adventure Tourism at Delhi is working towards to make it success from all the angle of this Event.
            Mr Nayak also had a detail discussion in this regards with the Chief Minister during his recent visit and also informed him about the development on this issue, the release said.

Source: Sikkim Express.

Date: 19th January 2009.