Gangtok: The Sikkim government has implemented a new policy requiring all tourists, including Indian citizens, to pay an entry fee of Rs 50 upon entering the state. This decision, announced in anticipation of the upcoming spring tourism season, has ignited a debate regarding its implications for the region’s tourism industry.
While the government has yet to provide a comprehensive justification for the fee, the Citizen Action Party (CAP) Sikkim has publicly criticized the move. CAP spokesperson Mahesh Rai, during a press conference held on Monday, questioned the legality and rationale behind charging Indian citizens for visiting a part of their own nation. Rai drew a comparison to Bhutan’s Sustainable Development Fund, which is exclusively levied on foreign tourists, emphasizing the disparity in Sikkim’s approach. “It seems an inspiration from Bhutan who takes sustainable development Fund. They charge the same only to foreign tourists. We will be collecting from Indian citizens. It will hamper tourism industry. There are already existing taxes on tourists,” Rai stated.
CAP further highlighted the existing financial burdens on tourists, citing the fees associated with restricted area permits and protected area permits for visits to North Sikkim, the Silk Route, and Nathula in East Sikkim. They also pointed to additional charges such as parking fees, entry fees at various tourist spots, and wildlife fees, some as high as Rs 100. “Those permit fees along with other parking fees, every tourist spot has entry charges, there are also wildlife fee as high as Rs. 100. It is taking the future of tourism in the State in the dark,” Rai asserted.
Beyond the new entry fee, CAP also raised concerns about the state’s infrastructure. They cited ongoing issues with road connectivity, the lack of 24-hour amenities, and inadequate drinking water and toilet facilities along state highways and at tourist destinations. “There are many states and regions in the country who are tourism-based economies, these tourists will divert to such locations. Tourism stakeholders also face the same concerns from Transport issues, to permission and countersign to visit Siliguri in West Bengal, resorting to bribing officials to get back to Sikkim with tourists,” Rai explained.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has already led to a decline in tourism in Sikkim, and the new entry fee has added to the concerns of local businesses. Many locals who invested their life savings in developing hotels and other tourism-related ventures are now facing financial hardship due to the reduced tourist footfall.
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