The Best Tourism Performing State

Sikkim has done it again. The State has been awarded the Best Tourism Performing State for the year 2006-07. Sikkim shares this honour with Madhya Pradesh.

This recognition and honour have been bestowed on the basis of efforts made for overall tourism development and promotion by the State Government. The Award will be presented on February 27 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi by the Union Minister for External Affairs, Pranab Mukerjee and will be received by the State Tourism Minister, RB Subba along with Secretary, Tourism GP Upadhyaya. After thorough research and survey of all the States and Union Territories, the jury comprising of eminent personalities from the Ministry of Tourism and the Industry chose Sikkim and Madhya Pradesh as the States with outstanding contributions towards tourism promotion in the country. 

The State has surpassed other States like Kerala, Rajasthan, and Goa, to receive this prestigious award. Tourism in the State has made considerable strides under the leadership of Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling. Moreover, Sikkim Tourism has been playing a stellar role in promoting Eco-Tourism, Adventure Tourism, Village Tourism and Pilgrimage Tourism. Sikkim already boasts of having the tallest statue of Guru Padmasambhava at Samdruptse. Presently, the construction of the statue of Lord Buddha is in progress at Rabongla. The State is also promoting the Buddhist circuit in a big way. New tourist destinations, trekking trails, adventure activities, and more places of historical importance are being explored and created to attract more visitors. 

Regular camps, Orientation classes, and workshop sensitization programmes are being organized at the grass-root level to inculcate a sense of awareness amongst the people to preserve their cultural heritage and tradition while promoting village tourism. According to a press release issued by the IPR Department, the Sikkim Tourism Department is hosting the International Flower Show in March 2008. Simultaneously, the First Khangchendzonga Mountain Biking Expedition 2008 is being held on March 3, 2008. The State Government received a Central fund of Rs 60 Crores in the current financial year for the development of the tourism infrastructure of the State.